ope could have.

    Sc carefully, ready to duck  voices coming, and ter  t drinks and ttle s instantaneously teen, and every cill and silent, staring at her.

    Mrs. Coulter smiled and passed on  a tle by little talk started again.

    Lyra said, “o talk?”

    “Probably took us t ty groure and I o stand t old me, like seeing ized me and did some ots a big room  of cables and a little platform. Its be office.  to pretend t off all rig theyre scared of her, same as we are....”

    For t of tayed close to tctle, remaining inconspicuous. time in tattered books and a table-tennis table. At some point Lyra and t ts anding in anxious groups talking urgently.

    Lyra guessed t had happened.

    But s see Mrs. Coulter, ime for bed, so let to her confidence.

    “Listen,” shey ever come round and see if were asleep?”

    “t look in once,” said Bella. “t flasern round, t really look.”

    “Good. Cause Im going to go and look round. t this boy showed me....”

    Sh you!”

    “No, you better not, cause itll be easier if t one person missing.

    You can all say you fell asleep and you dont know where Ive gone.”

    “But if I came h you—”

    “More likely to get caught,” said Lyra.

    taring at eacalaimon as a , Annies Kyrillion as a fox. talaimon uttered t, softest eeturned aside and began to groom himself unconcernedly.

    “All righen,” said Annie, resigned.

    It e common for struggles bettled by ting ted tcome  resentment, on t