London
Bowen's initial description of London in the moonlight paints an eerie, almost ghostly image of the city: It is "shallow, cratered, extinct." This tricolon of adjectives depicts the destruction of the city, where bombs have leveled buildings, blasted craters in the ground, and killed a number of its inhabitants. The remaining buildings are dull, the streets are glowing, and people try to escape the moonlight as if it were an immaterial threat: "The buildings strained with battened-down human life, but not a beam, not a voice, not a note from a radio escaped." It seems there is no room for friendliness when three French soldiers are only greeted by the expressionless faces of the air wardens roaming the streets. Therefore, the city is so quiet that periodically only the subway can be heard--and felt, as it rumbles deep underground.
Kor
Pepita imagines Kor's buildings as a stark contrast to London: It is a timeless city, with all structures intact and flawless, unlike London, where bombs have destroyed parts of the city: "The corners of stones and the monuments might have been cut yesterday, and the stairs and arches are built to support themselves." Through her eyes, the reader learns that there are "void, pure streets," "statues, pillars and shadows," "archways and colonnades," which paint a picture of an ancient city.
An Acoustic Image of London
Pepita's fantasy of quiet Kor is shattered by a number of sounds, which abruptly bring her back to the real world. Bowen lists them in quick succession, as if she wanted to simulate Pepita's eye-movements when she follows them. Therefore, she creates an impressionistic acoustic image of London: "A car hummed like a hornet towards them, veered, showed its scarlet tail-light, streaked away up the road. A woman edged round a front door and along the area railings timidly called her cat; meanwhile a clock near, then another set further back in the dazzling distance, set about striking midnight."
Arthur's Presence
When Callie wakes up after hearing Arthur walking around in the flat, Bowen describes him through Callie's eyes. Since it is dark, she relies on the sense of smell, which makes Arthur appear mysterious: "The air of the room was [...] overhung by tobacco. [...] she could smell the coat." Apart from Arthur's features, which appear "in the fleeting, dull reddish glow," Callie cannot see anything; nevertheless, the room is "dense with his presence," which evokes almost supernatural associations. Therefore, Bowen carefully paints a picture of Arthur without describing his outer appearance.
