In this excerpt, the narrator describes a woman who remains emotionally impenetrable and unresponsive to their hostility. Despite the narrator's sarcasm and bitterness, sheMaintain an unchanging calm, similar to a serene and magical lake in a fairy tale, which makes it impossible to gauge her true feelings or reactions.

The imagery emphasizes her emotional distance and unawareness or indifference to the narrator's negative attempts at interaction. Her composed exterior acts as a barrier, silencing any conflict or confrontation, and creating an environment where hostility is ignored rather than acknowledged.