Am I being extravagant?
Perhaps it was extravagant.

Just for a moment she had another glimpse of that poor woman and those little children, and the body being carried into the house.

But it all seemed blurred, unreal, like a picture in the newspaper.

I'll remember it again after the party's over, she decided.
And somehow that seemed quite the best plan...
Lunch was over by half-past one.

By half-past two they were all ready for the fray.