She had invited some of their neighbors to supper and had spent the day preparing the feast.

Things, however, had gone wrong; the stove had got too hot and spoiled her choicest dishes.
"You forgot!" she exclaimed.

"It really isn't often I trouble you with guests." "That's lucky, because I haven't much time for entertaining people.

I'm overworked just now." Helen hesitated because she was afraid she might say too much.

She admired his persevering industry, but had begun to feel that he was slipping away from her and devoting himself to his farm.