The men had excited, startled faces, the women looked solemn, some of them had been crying.

The children enjoyed the excitement at first.

There was an intensity in the air, almost magical.

Did all enjoy it?
Did all enjoy the thrill?
Gudrun had wild ideas of rushing to comfort Gerald.

She was thinking all the time of the perfect comforting, reassuring thing to say to him.
She was shocked and frightened, but she put that away, thinking of how she should deport herself with Gerald: act her part.