Each was entirely aware of the mental and spiritual barrier, which made it absolutely impossible for them to approach each other in the sense of reality.

A barrier infinitely more forbidding than any material one of stone or iron.

Because it was living, poisoned, venomous as the fang of some monstrous deadly serpent.

To come within its influence meant the death of love.
There was not much more of the day to get through.

Husband and wife both got through it in a fever of activity over details that seemed scarcely to matter.