"Other people wouldn't be looking at you. They'd be quiet too. There's a terrific force in many people being quiet together."
"'Many-people-being-quiet-together,'" Anne whispered.
"Well—if I were sure they weren't paying any attention," Hilda spoke with mounting excitement, as if about to venture an intoxicating drink, not quite certain of its after-effects.
"You know that any time you care to come with me," Charlotte suggested, "I shall be glad. Our meetings always close with a few moments of utter stillness."
"Maybe I will. I'd like to see it."
"Next Sunday we're going to have one of the Boston Board of Lecturers out. If you like, I'll call up for you. About half past three?"
"That's just the time I never know what to do with myself. I'd like to."
But the following Sunday when Charlotte came, Hilda had not returned from an outing with Rogie.
"She must have forgotten all about it," Anne explained. "She did say something about taking Rogie to the Park, but I thought she would be back in time. She's been talking about Silence all the week."
Mrs. Welles laughed and turned to go. She was a little late already. "Perhaps the outing will do her just as much good. Besides she can come some other time. It makes no difference."