I am truly sorry to detain you over me and my beehive chair.

A sleepy old man, in a sunny back yard, is not an interesting object, I am well aware.

But things must be put down in their places, as things actually happened--and you must please to jog on a little while longer with me, in expectation of Mr.Franklin Blake's arrival later in the day.
Before I had time to doze off again, after my daughter Penelope had left me, I was disturbed by a rattling of plates and dishes in the servants' hall, which meant that dinner was ready.

Taking my own meals in my own sitting-room, I had nothing to do with the servants' dinner, except to wish them a good stomach to it all round, previous to composing myself once more in my chair.

I was just stretching my legs, when out bounced another woman on me.