Shrunken faces and spirituality

Last night Alphonse, our cook made a very spontaneous and innocent statement which caught my attention immediately. It was regarding the Sisters who left the refectory within 20 mins after their supper - something unusual given the long time they'd spend otherwise. The reason according to Alphonse: "They started their retreat." How did he come to know that? "They were silent and their faces shrunk!" If our witness power is just that much - silence and shrunken faces - it says a great deal about the impact such a great source of spiritual renewal has on others and more importantly on us!