I looked round the room instinctively, and noticed that the fire was laid ready for lighting, and that there were small-cut logs of wood piled beside the hearth.

Ever since that night I have had a fire laid ready.
I was tempted to light it, but as I never have a fire unless I sleep in the open, I hesitated to begin.

I went back to the window, and, opening the catch, stepped out on the terrace.

As I looked down the white walk and let my eyes range over the expanse of the garden, where everything glistened as the moonlight caught the wet, I half expected to see some white figure flitting amongst the shrubs and statues.

The whole scene of the former visit came back to me so vividly that I could hardly believe that any time had passed since then.