He seemed to be pondering matters.
Mary hoped that Joan was hungry.

Joan laughed and admitted that she was.
"It's the smell of all the nice things," she explained.

Mary promised it should soon be ready, and went back to her corner.
A short, dark, thick-set man entered and stood looking round the room.
The frame must once have been powerful, but now it was shrunken and emaciated.

The shabby, threadbare clothes hung loosely from the stooping shoulders.

Only the head seemed to have retained its vigour.