The boy became volubly friendly and bubbling over with unexpected humour and high spirits. He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. Nobody would miss them, he explained.

It was a bleak, rainsome day, and I imagined how majestic the building must look in the sunshine, if it was already as spectacular as it was.

convexedly crooked

Dashi is the basic soup stock for many Japanese dishes including noodle soups.