She, also, appeared to be occupied with a bunch of grapes though she ate none, and only pulled them from their stems.

She sat straight, her features as composed and pure as those of a new marble saint in a cathedral niche; yet her downcast eyes seemed to conceal many thoughts; and her cousin, against his will, was more aware of what these thoughts might be than of the leisurely conversation between her father and mother.

All at once, however, he heard something that startled him, and he listened--and here was the effect of all Alice's forefendings; he listened from the first with a sinking heart.
Mr.Palmer, mildly amused by what he was telling his wife, had just spoken the words, "this Virgil Adams." What he had said was, "this Virgil Adams--that's the man's name.

Queer case." "Who told you ?" Mrs.Palmer inquired, not much interested.
"Alfred Lamb," her husband answered.

"He was laughing about his father, at the club.