half-humourously

Updated: May 20, 2025

She held her head high. "Yes: he's coming. I've just heard. He arrives to-morrow. But that's not " She saw her blunder and tried to rectify it. "Or rather, yes, in a way it is my reason for wanting to speak to you " "Because he's coming?" "Because he's not yet here." "It's about him, then?" He looked at her kindly, half-humourously, an almost fraternal wisdom in his smile.

Edith Wharton - The Reef

"You've been out!" he said, observing that she was in street attire. "What is it?" she asked nervously, fearing that some altercation had already occurred between brother and sister. "It's about your private affairs that's all," he said easily, and half-humourously. "If you'll just come in."

Arnold Bennett - Hilda Lessways