Miss Vesper was fond of making dry little jokes in the gravest tone; only a twinkle of her eyes and a movement of her tight little lips betrayed her.
'Shall I ask the landlady to help me up with the luggage ?' 'You are rather pale, Miss Madden.

Better let me see to that.

I have to go down to remind Mrs.Hocking to put salt into the saucepan with the potatoes.

She cooks for me only on Sunday, and if I didn't remind her every week she would boil the potatoes without salt.

Such a state of mind is curious, but one ends by accepting it as a fact in nature.' They joined in merry laughter.