Events thus far seemed normal.
He stirred the coffee and started to raise the cup.

Now, after all, it seemed to be a dream.

His hand shook so that the stuff spilled into the saucer and even out on to the table.

Always in dreams you were thwarted at the last moment.
The Montague girl had noted the trembling and ineffective hand.

She turned her back upon him to chat with the waitress over by the food counter.