I was wondering if the scene in the drawing-room had been a triumph or a disaster or merely a chaotic piece of bad taste verging on bathos, but I reflected that the only important question was whether I had communicated my message to my parents. I continued to smoke my cigarette and occasionally I shuddered. I wondered dimly how anyone ever survived their families.
The narrator reflects on a scene that leaves them questioning its success or failure, contemplating whether it was a triumph, a disaster, or simply a misguided display of poor taste. Despite these musings, they realize that the primary concern is whether their message reached their parents effectively. The narrator's thoughts reveal a sense of uncertainty and the complexity of family dynamics.
As they smoke a cigarette, a feeling of discomfort washes over them, leading to a moment of introspection about the struggles of dealing with familial relationships. This contemplation hints at a deeper understanding of the challenges faced when trying to communicate within the family unit, highlighting the sometimes chaotic nature of such interactions.