There was an unfamiliar light in her waiting eyes, the light of interest and of hope.
Spence, rather to his consternation, realized that it was up to him to justify that hope.

And he wasn't at all sure ...

however, he had to go through with it, ...

There was a fighting chance, anyway.
"Let's think about the work for a moment," he began nervously.

"That work, my book, you know, is simply going all to pot if you can't keep on with it.