even here at the very edge of the crowd they were being pushed and pulled around by the currents of the dance , and he felt tullia 's hand grabbing his tightly as she was pulled away , pulling hard on his arm before finally her fingers slipped from his , and he lost her ; he kept his eyes on her face for a moment , but then he was jostled , and half-turned , and when he turned back , she was gone , whirled away from him .