She seemed to be half asleep already.

The flush on her face had deepened: she looked like a woman who was in danger of having a fit.
He rang the bell, and directed the man who answered it to send one of the chambermaids upstairs.

His voice seemed to partially rouse the Countess; she opened her eyes in a slow drowsy way.

'Have you read it ?' she asked.
It was necessary as a mere act of humanity to humour her.

'I will read it willingly,' said Henry, 'if you will go upstairs to bed.