But the wisdom of ages has hinted that there is a side of the bed which has a malign influence if you happen to get out on it; and this accident befalls some charming persons rather frequently.

Perhaps it had befallen Gwendolen this morning.

The hastening of her toilet, the way in which Bugle used the brush, the quality of the shilling serial mistakenly written for her amusement, the probabilities of the coming day, and, in short, social institutions generally, were all objectionable to her.

It was not that she was out of temper, but that the world was not equal to the demands of her fine organism.
However it might be, Rex saw an awful majesty about her as she entered and put out her hand to him, without the least approach to a smile in eyes or mouth.

The fun which had moved her in the evening had quite evaporated from the image of his accident, and the whole affair seemed stupid to her.