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           "I’veneverseenadeadpersonbefore,"saidFrancine.

           Laviniaexaminedherwatchasifitwasathousandmilesawayonanarmandwristgrownimpossiblydistant."It’sonlyeight-thirty.We’llpickupHelenandgetontotheshow."

           "Theshow!"Francinejerked.

           "It’swhatweneed.We’vegottoforgetthis.It’snotgoodtoremember.Ifwewenthomenowwe’dremember.We’llgototheshowasifnothinghappened."

           "Lavinia,youdon’tmeanit!"

           "Inevermeantanythingmoreinmylife.Weneedtolaughnowandforget."

           "ButElizabeth’sbackthere—yourfriend,myfriend—"

           "Wecan’thelpher;wecanonlyhelpourselves.Comeon."

           Theystarteduptheravineside,onthestonypath,inthedark.Andsuddenlythere,barringtheirway,standingverystillinonespot,notseeingthem,butlookingondownatthemovinglightsandthebodyandlisteningtotheofficialvoices,wasDouglasSpaulding.

           Hestoodthere,whiteasamushroom,withhishandsathissides,staringdownintotheravine.

           "Gethome!"criedFrancine.

           Hedidnothear.

           "You!"shriekedFrancine."Gethome,getoutofthisplace,youhear?Gethome,gethome,gethome!"

           Douglasjerkedhishead,staredatthemasiftheywereI.notthere.Hismouthmoved.Hegaveableatingsound.Then,·silently,hewhirledaboutandran.Heransilentlyupthedistanthillsintothewarmdarkness.

           Francinesobbedandcriedagainand,doingthis,walkedonwithLaviniaNebbs."