She caught herself almost smiling at the idea, softening at its palpable falsity.

In a last effort at resistance she fixed her thoughts on the cruelty, the callousness, in his method of narration, and began to feel herself on solid ground.

She was consequently inspired to run over all that he had said, in order to make her footing yet firmer, and at the outset she was brought to a check.

Why had she never questioned him upon the matter before?
he had asked.

Clarice stopped and asked the question of herself.