Suddenly, from inside the hall, there was the sound of a scream. It was of anger and exasperation, not of pain, but it was loud enough to make the short-toed lark rise into the air before settling again farther away. Elspeth ran out of the hall towards them. Tears were streaming down her face and she took no notice of the men. She was completely absorbed in her own misery. She was wearing a calf-length skirt, and as she ran she stumbled and caught her knee on the hem. Will called after her but she took no notice. When she reached the road, he got up and hurried after her without saying a word to George.

George walked slowly towards the hall. As he reached the door Kenneth and Annie came out. Annie, too, looked as if she had been crying. Kenneth had his arm around her shoulder. They followed their daughter home, like grieving relatives following a coffin at a funeral.

Obviously everyone inside the hall had enjoyed the disturbance, yet they were shocked by it. The scene was another indication that everything was not as normal. The clothes for sale on the trestles were ignored and people stood in small groups, talking. Some of the wedding decorations were still strung over the ceiling, and with the colourful clothes, the place still had a fantastic carnival air. When George walked in, the islanders stared at him, hoping that he might have the power to satisfy their curiosity, but he took no notice and they turned back to their friends to gossip and speculate. The Woollie Man held up some violently striped towels in a last effort to attract custom, but there was no response, and he began to pile the unsold goods into suitcases.

Sarah was there, talking to Agnes, and George approached her.

“What was that about?” he asked.

“It was really strange.…” Her voice was clear and piercing and people turned to look at her, waiting for her interpretation of the incident which had taken place.

He took her arm and led her outside. The audience was hostile, resentful because they were being deprived of another free show. Sarah seemed not to notice them. She seemed as excited as all the others. Once outside she continued:

“It was really strange. Elspeth went up to the counter to buy some things for her little boy. The salesman was talking to her, joking, you know, saying how pretty she was. Then when he was giving her the change, he said he thought he recognized her and hadn’t she been on the television? She said no, of course she hadn’t. You could tell that she was hating it. She was almost shouting. But he insisted. He said he had a wonderful memory and he was sure he’d seen her face on the television. That was when she screamed and ran out.