Cass Timberlane, A Novel of Husbands and Wives by Sinclair Lewis

For Cass, the worst, in the late Northern winter, when the malicious cold and the ashen skies had gone on too long, when the white world was speckled with dirt and the snow was spoiled for skiing, was coming home from court to the dusky house that was empty of her welcome. Her absence was not a negative thing, merely a not-being-there; it was a positive and frightening presence, which crept after him and made him turn quickly to see her not- being-there.

He muttered "Jinny?" as he stood in the dark living-room, as though she must hear him and come.