If she had been summoned to hear lamentations her voice would not have rippled thus soothingly.

Reardon thought of this, and it made him silent for a minute.
'The habit was ominous,' he said, looking at her with an uncertain smile.

'A practical literary man doesn't do such things.' 'Milvain, for instance.

No.' With curious frequency she mentioned the name of Milvain.

Her unconsciousness in doing so prevented Reardon from thinking about the fact; still, he had noted it.
'Did you understand the phrase slightingly ?' he asked.
'Slightingly?
Yes, a little, of course.