The Return by Walter de la Mare — Read

There was no one in the room, and no light, when they entered. For a moment Grisel stood by the open window, looking out. Then she turned impulsively. "My brother, of course, will ask you too," she said; "we had made up our minds to do so if you came again; but I want you to promise me now that you won't dream of going back tonight. That surely would be tempting -- well, not Providence. I couldn't rest if I thought you might be alone; like that again. " Her voice died away into the calling of the waters. A light moved across the dingy old rows of books and as his sister turned to go out Herbert appeared in the doorway, carrying a green-shaded lamp, with an old leather quarto under his arm.

"Ah, here you are," he said. "I guessed you had probably met. " He drew up, burdened, before his visitor. But his clear black glance, instead of wandering off at his first greeting, had intensified. And it was almost with an air of absorption that he turned away. He dumped his book on to a chair and it turned over with scattered leaves on to the floor. He put the lamp down and stooped after it, so that his next words came up muffled, and as if the remark had been forced out of him. "You don't feel worse, I hope? " He got up and faced his visitor for the answer. And for the moment Lawford stood considering his symptoms.