Julius had come to it in a fretful, hypercritical mood.

He had been calculating what his proposed changes would cost, and the sum total had given him a slight shock.

He was like many extravagant people, subject to passing spells of almost contemptible economy; and at that hour the proposed future outlay of thousands did not trouble him so much as the actual penny-half-penny value of his mother-in-law's lunch.
He did not say so, but in some way the feeling permeated the table.

The widow pushed her plate aside, and sipped her glass of wine in silence.
Charlotte took a pettish pleasure in refusing what she felt she was unwelcome to.

Both left the table before Julius and Sophia had finished their meal; and both, as soon as they reached their rooms, turned to each other with faces hot with indignation, and hearts angry with a sense of shameful unkindness.
Charlotte spoke first.