It was strangely painful.

To one whom suffering has driven upon self-study the predominance of a mere mood is always more or less a troublesome mystery; in Adela's case it was becoming a source of fear.

She seemed to be losing self-control; in looking back on last evening she doubted whether her own will had been at all operative in the state of calm enjoyment to which she had attained.

Was it physical weakness which put her thus at the mercy of the moment's influences?
There came a letter from Mutimer to-day; in it he mentioned Alice and reminded Adela of her promise.

This revived a trouble which had fallen out of activity for a day or two.