Fortunately, when the maid brought her supper, old habits came to Terisa's rescue. She responded to Saddith's glow in the same pale, passive, covert way she had so often dealt with her parents; she put on non-existence like a cloak, so that nothing about her called attention to itself or disturbed the flow of Sadditrfs emotions and concerns. As a result, she was able to hear Saddith's hints and elation in safety, as if she felt nothing. And she had no trouble fending off the maid's cheerful, leering attempts to find out how she had spent her day. It seemed quite possible to her that she did feel nothing. How would she have known if an emotion of any importance had taken hold of her? Unfortunately, the habits which saved her exacted a price. The sensation that she was fading began to steal over her. A bad night loomed ahead-and she had no mirrors with which to defend herself. After the maid had cleared away the tray and left for the night, Terisa took another bath, using the cold of the water and the warmth of the fire to create the illusion of physical actuality.
