It had been raining for a long time, a slow, cold rain falling from iron-colored clouds. They had been driving since morning, and they still had a hundred and thirty miles to go. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon.

"I'm getting hungry," Laura said.

"Michael took his eyes off the wet, winding road for a second and said, "We'll stop at a dog-wagon," Laura shifted her position irritably.

"I wish you wouldn't call them dog-wagons," she said ....

"That's what they are," Michael said, "dog-wagons." Laura waited a few seconds.

"Decent people call them diners," she told him, and added, "Even if you call them diners, I don't like them." Michael speeded up the hill.

"They have better stuff than most restaurants," he said. "Anyway, I want to get home before dark and it takes too long in a restaurant. We can stay our stomachs with a couple of hamburgers."

Q. Underline three key expressions from the selection which establish a dismal, dreary atmosphere.