Summary

When Fletcher went outside, the girl was still standing in the street. She gave Fletcher a nod, and began leading him "along the narrow paths" (6). The whole place looked as if it would crumble. The girl walked ahead of Fletcher. She glanced back to say that Wendy and her friends would be glad to meet him.

He asked if they had given Maggis the same "sort of reception," and she said they had (6). Fletcher again said that Maggis was unimportant, and thought too highly of himself. The girl assured him that they knew Fletcher was more important.

Fletcher told the girl some of his opinions had changed, and he hoped they did not expect him to say the same sorts of things he used to.

They kept walking. Suddenly footsteps appeared behind them. They stopped. The girl stood to the side. "A middle-aged...