Despite the flurry of thoughts going through her head, Lyra did have the presence of mind to be a bit annoyed when Miss Browne turned around. She had already taken the risk of speaking with her in the first place, after all, and had calculated that following her through would not be terribly dangerous if the other girl had not yet recognized her... but she could hardly do so when Miss Browne was turned around staring right at her!

"No, Miss," Lyra said quickly; if there was enough blood left in her body to blush, she might have done so. She had been lingering too long to just leave it at that, however, and felt that she needed to invent an excuse. What she settled for was a little too close to the truth for comfort, but the best she could come up with on the spur of the moment: "You just — reminded me of someone I knew once, I suppose. I'm sorry, I was... caught up. Have a pleasant day."