“Oh of course – how ridiculous of me!” cried Mrs. Wilkins, flushing scarlet. “It’s because” – she floundered – “it’s because the immortals somehow still seem alive, don’t they – as if they were here, going to walk into the room in another minute – and one forgets they are dead. In fact one knows perfectly well that they’re not dead – not nearly so dead as you and I even now,” she assured.”