In this excerpt, the speaker describes an unsuccessful attempt to make a woman laugh or become cheerful. Despite their efforts and loud effort, she remains pensive and distant, paying attention to her surroundings rather than engaging with their attempts at entertainment.
She seems preoccupied and contemplative, indicated by her wandering gaze and the sigh she gives after suggesting "Tier upon tier!" The scene ends with a silence, emphasizing her detachment and the lack of response to their lively efforts to revive her mood.