My heart began to reproach me that I had let her fight unaided, and I suppose I looked the compassion I felt.
"Child of folly!" she said, with another attempted smile, "-- not crying, surely!--Wait for me here; I am going into the black hall for a moment.
I want you to get me something for my scratches." But I followed her close.

Out of my sight I feared her.
The instant the princess entered, I heard a buzzing sound as of many low voices, and, one portion after another, the assembly began to be shiftingly illuminated, as by a ray that went travelling from spot to spot.

Group after group would shine out for a space, then sink back into the general vagueness, while another part of the vast company would grow momently bright.
Some of the actions going on when thus illuminated, were not unknown to me; I had been in them, or had looked on them, and so had the princess: present with every one of them I now saw her.

The skull-headed dancers footed the grass in the forest-hall: there was the princess looking in at the door! The fight went on in the Evil Wood: there was the princess urging it! Yet I was close behind her all the time, she standing motionless, her head sunk on her bosom.

The confused murmur continued, the confused commotion of colours and shapes; and still the ray went shifting and showing.