void extendLeft( FragList prev, String mergedCell, short base )
    {
        // find the next space in the merged cell
        String token = getToPrevBreakPoint( mergedCell );
        if ( !doubledUp(token,mergedCell,prev) && token.length() > 0 
            && fragments.size()>0 )
        {
            Atom first = this.fragments.get(0);
            if ( !first.startsWithBreakPoint() )
            {
                Fragment f2 = new Fragment( FragKind.aligned, 
                    token, getShared() );
                f2.setStyle( "right" );
                // add the extended fraglist to the merged section
                if ( !prev.isEmpty() )
                {
                    for ( int i=0;i<prev.fragments.size();i++ )
                    {
                        Atom a = prev.fragments.get(i);
                        if ( a instanceof Fragment )
                        {
                            Fragment g = (Fragment) a;
                            if ( g.style==null )
                                return;
                        }
                    }
                    prev.add( f2 );
                }
                else
                    prev.add( f2 );
            }
        }
    }