He, so it seemed to me, had grown pale and thin.

Also he was nervously irritable and not at all like his usual good-natured self.

I tried to joke him into better humor, but he did not respond to my jokes.

He seemed, too, to realize that his odd behavior was noticeable, for he said: "Don't mind my crankiness, Ros.

I've got so much on my mind that I'd be mean to my old grandmother, if I had one, I guess likely.