Summary

Fletcher kept drifting "between sleep and waking," perpetually aware of the voices around him (4). He heard a woman mention her former interest in him, commenting upon his now-ragged appearance. Fletcher decided the woman must be talking about Maggis. He fell back asleep.

He reawakened. The room was "darker and colder" (4). The voices continued. He felt embarrassed for sleeping, but remained with his "face to the wall" (4). The people noticed he had awoken, and began whispering. A woman crossed the room, and touched his shoulder. Fletcher turned slightly, but the woman's face "was visible only in shadow" (4).

The woman said they needed to talk. She had been waiting for him to return, and thought about him often (4).

Fletcher could not make out her face. She was in her forties, and looked fatigued and sad (4). He apologized for not knowing who she was.

The woman...