As for me , I was hungry , and contented content myself with silently demolishing demolish the tea , ham , and toast , while my mother and sister went on talking talk , and continued to discuss discuss the apparent or non-apparent circumstances , and probable or improbable history of the mysterious lady ; but I must confess confess that , after my brother ’s misadventure misadventure , I once or twice raised raise the cup to my lips , and put put it down again without daring to taste the contents , lest I should injure my dignity by a similar explosion explosion .