the staircase was narrow and made of very old wood . her face is cold and totally devoid of expression . we start talking about other things , and pretty soon hazel is asleep . i think that we should get a room for the night and spend tomorrow on the beach away from anyone we might know . loose threads and a ragged patch of darker fabric showed where some badge had been torn away . the little girl was leaning against her father 's shoulder with her eyes half closed . 