i don't think my roommate has been in for two nights. that doesn't sound like long, and it wouldn't mean anything, really, because we aren't close enough to tell each other if we went away for the weekend, and we hardly ever see each other either at home or in the department anyway. (when we go away for longer breaks, we usually leave our room doors open to be sure to catch the other coming in, but in a pinch a note in the kitchen would do too. moreover i did run into her on wednesday in the department, neither of us were in a hurry, so she might have mentioned it if she had wanted to. on the other hand, she still needn't mention it even if this wasn't spontaneous, if it's only for two days.) when von was here sometimes i just decided that i wanted to get away from things and went to stay at dunster, often on the moment. and i probably wouldn't go out of the way to mention i was going away for two days unless i did happen to see her before that. and i don't know for sure she hadn't come home - at least i was home quite early thursday afternoon - i'm quite sure i came in before her - and was up till 4 in the morning and didn't hear her come in. and when i came in late friday afternoon, i saw that the two parcels that were hers (which i'd brought up when i came home on thursday) were still sitting out in the hall, and again i didn't hear her come in last night. and if she did come in after i had gone to bed this morning those parcels are still in the kitchen. who knows - she could have come in very quietly at 6 in the morning and departed after i did - but the parcels aren't like her. it is no real matter except that it's hard to know, nowadays, whether someone were lying somewhere unconscious and roommates ought to be the first to notice and send to the authorities. or if there had been an emergency that'd called her home, or elsewhere, could i do anything to help here?