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The Return by Walter De la Mare
page 33 of 310 (10%)
soothingly. 'We believe, we believe.'

It was, none the less, a sheer act of faith. He took off his
spectacles and took out his handkerchief. 'What we must do, eh,
my dear,' he half turned to Mrs Lawford, 'what we must do is to
consult, yes, consult together. And later--we must have advice--
medical advice; unless, as I very much suspect, it is merely a
little quite temporary physical aberration. Science, I am told,
is making great strides, experimenting, groping after things
which no sane man has ever dreamed of before--without being
burned alive for it. What's in a name? Nerves, especially,
Lawford.'

Mrs Lawford sat perfectly still, absorbedly listening, turning
her face first this way, then that, to each speaker in turn.
'That is what I thought,' she said, and cast one fleeting glance
across at the fireplace, 'but--'

The little old gentleman turned sharply with half-blind eyes, and
lips tight shut. 'I think,' he said, with a hind of austere
humour, 'I think, do you know, I see no "but."' He paused as if
to catch the echo and added, 'It's our only course.' He continued
to polish round and round his glasses. Mrs Lawford rather
magnificently rose.

'Perhaps if I were to leave you together awhile? I shall not be
far off. It is,' she explained, as if into a huge vacuum, 'it is
a terrible visitation.' She moved gravely round the table and
very softly and firmly closed the door after her.

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