what's the meaning of the sentence "slightly histrionic in his fear"? Phrynne shook her head and took his arm. ‘Nowhere to go,’ she said. But her voice was soft with fear, and her eyes blank. ‘I don’t expect they’ll trouble us.’ Swiftly Gerald drew the thick plush curtains, leaving them in complete darkness. ‘We’ll sit it out,’ he said, slightly histrionic in his fear. ‘No matter what happens.’ He scrambled across to the switch. But when he pressed it, light did not come. ‘The current’s gone. We must get back into bed.’ Q: what's the meaning of the sentence "slightly histrionic in his fear"? what does it mean by "soft with fear"?

what's the meaning of "mountingly muffled by the noisy current of his blood" here? Then one peel stopped. There could be no other explanation for the obvious diminuition in sound. ‘You see!’ said Phrynne. Gerald sat up straight on the side of the bed. Almost at once further sections of sound subsided, quickly one after the other, until only a single peal was left, that which had begun the ringing. Then the single peal tapered off into a single bell. The single bell tolled on its own, disjointedly, five or six or seven times. Then it stopped, and there was nothing. Gerald’s head was a cave of echoes, mountingly muffled by the noisy current of his blood. ‘Oh goodness,’ said Phrynne, turning from the window and stretching her arms above her head. ‘Let’s go somewhere else tomorrow.’ She began to take off her dress. Q: what's the meaning of "mountingly muffled by the noisy current of his blood" here?

what's the meaning of "the strength of her resistance" He was at a loss to divine how much she knew, guessed, or imagined; and any word of enlightenment from him might be inconceivably dangerous. But he was conscious of the strength of her resistance, and lacked the reserves to battle with it. Q：what's the meaning of "the strength of her resistance" and "the reserves" here? does "the strength of her resistance" mean that her resistance is strong or weak?besides, from the context, we can know that the conjunction "but" here does not mean "however", then what's its function here, just to emphasize the following sentence or what else?

what's the difference between "a single peal" and "a single bell" Almost at once further sections of sound subsided, quickly one after the other, until only a single peal was left, that which had begun the ringing. Then the single peal tapered off into a single bell. The single bell tolled on its own, disjointedly, five or six or seven times. Then it stopped, and there was nothing. Q1: what's the difference between "a single peal" and "a single bell" ‘Gerald! Come and help me.’ He remembered that she was curiously vulnerable in the dark. He found his way to her, and guided her to the bed. ‘No more love,’ she said ruefully and affectionately, her teeth chattering. He kissed her lips with what gentleness the total night made possible. Q2: what does it mean here by "no more love"?

what's the meaning of "all right" here in the context? But soon they were in their room, with the key turned in the big rim lock. ‘Oh God,’ cried Gerald, sinking on the double bed. ‘It’s pandemonium.’ Not for the first time that evening he was instantly more frightened than ever by the unintended appositeness of his own words. ‘It’s pandemonium all right,’ said Phrynne, almost calmly. ‘And we’re not going out in it.’ Q：what's the meaning of "all right" here in the context?in the "unintended appositeness", what's the meaning of "unintended"? does it mean "unexpected" or mean that he said it by accident or unintentially?

Q: what does the sentence "A small unusual devil seemed to have entered into her." mean? ‘He’s left his book,’ said Phrynne, on a new tack. ‘I wonder what he’s reading,’ continued Phrynne. ‘Foxe’s Lives of the Martyres, I expect.’ A small unusual devil seemed to have entered into her. But Mrs Pascoe knew the answer. ‘It’s always the same,’ she said contemptuously. ‘He only reads one. It’s called Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World. He’s been reading it ever since he came here. When he gets to the end, he starts again.’ ‘Should I take it up to him?’ asked Gerald. It was neither courtesy nor inclination, but rather a fear lest the Commandant return to the lounge: a desire, after those few minutes of reflection, to cross-examine. ‘Thanks very much,’ said Mrs Pascoe, as if relieved of a similar apprehension. ‘Room One. Next to the suit of Japanese armour.’ She went on tipping and banging. Q: what does the sentence "A small unusual devil seemed to have entered into her." mean?

what's the meaning of the word “coldly” here ‘Take her away, man,’ said the Commandant, with scornful ferocity. ‘In a day or two perhaps,’ said Gerald, patiently polite. ‘I admit that we are disappointed with Holihaven.’ ‘Now. While there’s still time. This instant.’ There was an intensity of conviction about the Commandant which was alarming. Gerald considered. Even the empty lounge, with its dreary decorations and commonplace furniture, seemed inimical. ‘They can hardly go on practising all night,’ he said. But now it was fear that hushed his voice. ‘Practising!’ The Commandant’s scorn flickered coldly through the overheated room. ‘What else?’ ‘They’re ringing to wake the dead.’ Q： what's the meaning of the word “coldly” here in "flcickered coldly through the overheated room"? Here, "coldly" and "overheated" contrast each other, does it have any implicative meaning?

does the sentence "his vehemence was extreme" mean that "he was very excited"? ‘It’s certainly a very noisy place,’ said Gerald, still in an undertone. ‘Why did you have to come tonight of all nights?’ The Commandant spoke in the same undertone, but his vehemence was extreme. ‘This doesn’t happen often?’ ‘Once every year.’ ‘They should have told us.’ ‘They don’t usually accept bookings. They’ve no right to accept them. When Pascoe was in charge they never did.’ ‘I expect that Mrs Pascoe felt they were in no position to turn away business.’ ‘It’s not a matter that should be left to a woman.’ Q：does the sentence "his vehemence was extreme" mean that "he was very excited"?

what's the meaning of the last sentence? Again Phrynne shifted in her sleep: this time more convulsively, so that she nearly woke. For some reason the two men remained speechless and motionless until she was again breathing steadily. Against the silence within, the bells sounded louder than ever. It was as if the tumult were tearing holes in the roof. Q： what's the meaning of "more convulsively", especially the word "convulsively"? Q: what's the meaning of the last sentence?