There was a little pause. Margaret was hesitating whether she should say what was in her mind; she was unwilling to irritate one who was always gloomy and despondent enough. At last out it came. But in her soft tones, and with her reluctant manner, shewing that she was unwilling to say anything unpleasant, it did not seem to annoy Higgins, only to perplex him.

There was a little pause. Margaret was hesitating whether to say what was in her mind; she was unwilling to irritate one who was already gloomy enough. At last out it came. But in her soft tones it did not seem to annoy Higgins, only to perplex him.
