She asked me to tell you that she wishes particularly to see you this evening, as she is going away to-morrow, and if she is well enough she will come down to the morning-room at nine; indeed, she said she would come down anyhow." After Ralph's natural anxiety respecting his ladylove had been relieved, and he had been repeatedly assured that nothing much was amiss, we went in to dinner, and a more lugubrious repast I never remember being present at.

The meals of the day might have been classified thus: breakfast _dismal_; luncheon, _dismaller_ (or more dismal); dinner, _dismallest_ (or most dismal).

There really was no conversation.

Even I, who without going very deep (which I consider is not in good taste) have something to say on almost every subject--even I felt myself nonplussed for the time being.

Each of us in turn got out a few constrained words, and then relapsed into silence.
Evelyn ate nothing, and her hand trembled so much when she poured out a glass of water that she spilled some on the cloth.