Itseemedasiftheplaceshehadbeenin，andthepeoplehehadbeenwith，mustceasetoexistwhenheleftthem，justasherownlifewassuspendedinhisabsence。
Hecontinued，now，totalktohervolublyandgaily，deploringhislateness，grumblingatthedemandsonhistime，andgood—humouredlymimickingMissHatchard’sbenevolentagitation。\"ShehurriedoffMilestoaskMr。RoyalltospeakattheTownHalltomorrow：Ididn’tknowtillitwasdone。\"Charitywassilent，andheadded：\"Afterall，perhapsit’sjustaswell。Nooneelsecouldhavedoneit。\"
Charitymadenoanswer：Shedidnotcarewhatpartherguardianplayedinthemorrow’sceremonies。Likealltheotherfigurespeoplinghermeagreworldhehadgrownnon—existenttoher。Shehadevenputoffhatinghim。
\"TomorrowIshallonlyseeyoufromfaroff，\"Harneycontinued。\"Butintheeveningthere’llbethedanceintheTownHall。Doyouwantmetopromisenottodancewithanyothergirl？\"
Anyothergirl？Werethereanyothers？Shehadforgotteneventhatperil，soencloseddidheandsheseemintheirsecretworld。Herheartgaveafrightenedjerk。