His brain worked incessantly, but his thought was attended with so little joy that he did not willingly recall it; but drove ahead, now in this direction, now in that; and came home laden with dark books borrowed from a library.
Mary Datchet, coming from the Strand at lunch-time, saw him one day taking his turn, closely buttoned in an overcoat, and so lost in thought that he might have been sitting in his own room.
She was overcome by something very like awe by the sight of him; then she felt much inclined to laugh, although her pulse beat faster.

She passed him, and he never saw her.

She came back and touched him on the shoulder.
"Gracious, Mary!" he exclaimed.

"How you startled me!" "Yes.

You looked as if you were walking in your sleep," she said.