The gruffness had returned: or had it never been absent?
The lovelessness and leadenness of his temperament had once more asserted themselves: or was it that they had never for one single day been in the background?
These thoughts passed through her mind as he sat next to her reading his paper--that paper which he never passed on to any one.

She hardened her heart against him; there was no need for ill-health and disappointment to have brought any one to a miserable state of indifference like that.
Then she looked at his wan face and frail form, and her heart softened at once.

At the moment when her heart softened to him, he astonished her by handing her his paper.
"Here is something to interest you," he said, "an article on Realism in Fiction, or some nonsense like that.

You needn't read it now.

I don't want the paper again.'' "I thought you never lent anything," she said, as she glanced at the article, "much less gave it." "Giving and lending are not usually in my line," he replied.