She thought that when she went with Peter to an engineers' party, the atmosphere was pleasant though the talk was boring. That was because everybody had their importance fixed and settled at least for the time being. Here nobody was safe. Judgment might be passed behind backs, even on the known and published. An air of cleverness or nerves obtained, no matter who you were.
The protagonist reflects on attending an engineers' party with Peter, where the ambiance felt enjoyable despite the conversations being dull. The comfort at the party stemmed from the participants having a clear sense of their social standing, resulting in a relaxed environment. However, the context changes when she considers the societal norms of judgment that can occur behind people's backs, highlighting a sense of vulnerability among the attendees.
This perception of...
