He proceeded to talk of trifles, but in such a tone as he might have used had there been grave sickness in the house.

And presently, with yet lower voice and a smile of good-humoured resignation, he said-- 'Our journey, I fear, must be postponed.' Adela smiled, not quite in the same way, and briefly assented.
'Alice is not very well,' Rodman then remarked.

'I advised her to have breakfast upstairs.

I trust you excuse her ?' Mutimer made his appearance.

He just nodded round, and asked, as he seated himself at table-- 'Who's been letting Freeman loose?
He's running about the garden.' The dog furnished a topic for a few minutes' conversation, then there was all but unbroken silence to the end of the meal.