Claudius held himself up to the full of his great height and steadied every nerve of his body for the meeting.

Margaret belonged to the people who do not change colour easily, and when she spoke, even the alert ear of Mr.Barker opposite could hardly detect the faintest change of tone.

And yet she bore the burden of it, for she spoke first.
"How do you do, Dr.Claudius ?" "Thank you, well.

I was sorry to hear you had a headache to-day.

I hope you are better." "Thanks, yes; much better." They all sat down, and it was over.
The conversation was at first very disjointed, and was inclined to turn on small jokes about the difficulty of dining at an angle of forty-five degrees.