When he looks at her she wears a secretive smile, the knowledge of their act between them like a thauma'd thing, laced with the unguilt of defiant exploration.

He has another appointment on Thursday. In other words, I don't think he'll be attending your gathering.

[…] the landlady entering at this very time with news that his wife had been delivered of a dead child, he yielded to the most furious ebullitions; while, in accordance with him, all howled and shrieked, and bellowed and uproared, with double vigor.

I'll put on some coffee for everybody.