Mrs. Drover finds a letter addressed to her on the hall table.
The Discovery on the Hall Table
The discovery occurs when Mrs. Drover returns to her house. After putting down her parcels on the escritoire and intending to go upstairs to retrieve items from a bedroom chest, she passes through the hall.
Key details surrounding this discovery include:
- Setting the Scene: Mrs. Drover had just placed her belongings (parcels) on the escritoire in the hall.
- Illumination: A shaft of refracted daylight lay across the hall at the moment of her discovery. This detail highlights the sudden clarity of her observation.
- The Item: She stopped abruptly and focused on the hall table, where she found a letter that was specifically addressed to her.
This pivotal moment is described in Elizabeth Bowen's short story, "The Demon Lover", which sets the stage for the unfolding narrative. The unexpected presence of the letter on the deserted hall table immediately introduces a sense of mystery and foreboding for Mrs. Drover.