Then, sorrowfully, "I do wish you were going to play, Neil." "Thanks, Syd; but don't let that keep you awake.

Good-night!" The room-mates chatted in a desultory way for half an hour longer and then prepared for bed.

Paul was somewhat nervous and excited, and displayed a tendency to stop short in the middle of removing a stocking to gaze blankly before him for whole minutes at a time.

Once he stood so long on one leg with his trousers half off that Neil feared he had gone to sleep, and so brought him back to a recollection of the business in hand by shying a boot at him.
As for Neil, he was untroubled by nervousness.

He believed Erskine was going to win.