Thank you, Guinevere, I thought so too!
Next one is up (to steal another Downer's favourite's expression):
"What it ____ I cannot ____, but I have never ____ such a _______. The _____-____ was terrible. It nearly ____ me. For an instant ___ ____ left my ______ and began to ____! I had to speak a _____ of ______. That proved too great ___ strain. The ____ burst to _____."