No melodrama; a hand-grip, a significant nod, a loud humming as he went downstairs.
Alma presently began a new letter to Sibyl Carnaby.

It was written in a cheery humour, though touched by the shadow of distressful circumstance.

She told the story of Mr.Dymes's visit, and made merry over it.

'I am sure this is the very newest thing in "proposals".
Though I live in such a dull, lonely way, it has made me feel that I am still in touch with civilisation.

And really, if the worst come to the worst--but it's dangerous to joke about such things.' She touched lightly on the facts of her position.