silence fell across the room while we stared at the information streaming on the display . there was something hard beneath the drift i had fallen into ; wood , perhaps . why do n't you take her father out to the waiting room ? a couple of seconds , and she pressed against the wall next to the door . he excused himself vaguely to the d.d. i stuck my finger in my mouth , and pushed it around on my gums , fidgeting . it 's awfully late , do n't you think ? '' 