I felt as if I had given the blow that would bring the whole structure down, and I waited for the crash in frightened silence.
In the meantime the business of the table went on.

I ate half a chicken croquette, and Susan placed the salad before Richard, and another plate.
He did not speak till he had put the salad on his plate; then he said, without looking at me, in a voice a good deal lower than was usual to him, "She is not to be mistress of that house.

They will live in town." Then I felt cold and chilled to my very heart; it was well that he did not expect me to speak, for I could not have commanded my voice enough to have concealed my agitation.

I knew very well from that moment that he was going to marry Charlotte Benson.

Something that was said a little later was a confirmation.
I had recovered myself enough to talk about ordinary things, and to keep strictly to them, too.