failed to keep away the skeletons of her childhood that gnawed at the back of her mind at night , preventing marital peace , preventing pleasure ; failed to keep out the intrusive hands and faces and voices of strangers , who at that very moment swarmed through other rooms of the house , seeking her , seeking knowledge of her ; failed to ward away the ugly finger of reminder which , at that moment , stood across the room from her , dressed in the color of blood .