I racked my brains for something to say.

She gave me no encouragement whatever.

At last I descended to a banality.
"We shall have rather a rough crossing, I am afraid," I said, touching my cap.
She looked at me as though surprised that I should have ventured to address her.

She did not take the trouble to be annoyed.

She answered me, indeed, with civility, but in a manner which certainly did not encourage me to attempt any further conversation.