Bernhard had been called back to headquarters for a conference, a general review of current operations with special attention to methods and sources, connecting dots while they walked back the cat, a dispirited and dispiriting exercise.

a stroke of apoplexy

In the outer room the two women knitted black wool feverishly.

In the past, I would have eaten nine full-to-the-brim plates of her scrumptious savories — but just fingernailfuls this time.