The Tale

"I'm sure," Mrs. Flowers said, "It is, it is a part of the Tale."

But Violet had seen that it would not be clearer until later. The Tale: yes, this was part of the Tale, but she had suddenly seen, as a person alone in a room reading or working at the end of day sees, as she raises her eyes from work that has for some reason grown obscure and difficult, that evening had come, and that's the reason; and that it would long grow darker before it lightened.

"Please," she said, "have tea. We'll light the lights. Stay awhile."

-Little, Big, John Crowley

http://www.littlebig25.com/PerpetualCrowleyInterview.html