He had evidently been saying something to startle the women; Mrs.Hudson had gone and seated herself, timidly and imploringly, on the edge of the sofa, trying to take his hand.

Miss Garland was applying herself to some needlework with conscious intentness.
Mrs.Hudson gave Rowland, on his entrance, a touching look of gratitude.
"Oh, we have such blessed news!" she said.

"Roderick is ready to leave Rome." "It 's not blessed news; it 's most damnable news!" cried Roderick.
"Oh, but we are very glad, my son, and I am sure you will be when you get away.

You 're looking most dreadfully thin; is n't he, Mr.Mallet?
It 's plain enough you need a change.

I 'm sure we will go wherever you like.