Up till now he had been profoundly unhappy and ashamed, but something in the unconquerable obstinacy of her attitude appealed to the devil that lived in him, a devil of untimely and disastrous humour.

The right thing, he felt, was not to appear as angry as he was.

He sat up on his pillow, and began to talk to her with genial informality.
"See here,--I suppose you want an explanation.

But don't you think we'd better wait until we're up?
Up and dressed, I mean.

I can't talk seriously before I've had a bath and--and brushed my hair.