It is not reality.
No!' Comforting himself with this assurance, Mr Mantalini closed his eyes and waited patiently till such time as he should wake up.
'A very judicious arrangement,' observed Ralph with a sneer, 'if your husband will keep within it, ma'am--as no doubt he will.' 'Demmit!' exclaimed Mr Mantalini, opening his eyes at the sound of Ralph's voice, 'it is a horrid reality.

She is sitting there before me.
There is the graceful outline of her form; it cannot be mistaken--there is nothing like it.

The two countesses had no outlines at all, and the dowager's was a demd outline.

Why is she so excruciatingly beautiful that I cannot be angry with her, even now ?' 'You have brought it upon yourself, Alfred,' returned Madame Mantalini--still reproachfully, but in a softened tone.
'I am a demd villain!' cried Mr Mantalini, smiting himself on the head.
'I will fill my pockets with change for a sovereign in halfpence and drown myself in the Thames; but I will not be angry with her, even then, for I will put a note in the twopenny-post as I go along, to tell her where the body is.

She will be a lovely widow.