It is strange. He can hear in her tone, in her words, that she was worried by his absence; and that is touching, in a way he cannot and will not deny, but it is also just strange. He will not dismiss it out of hand, will not say even to himself that she is foolish to be concerned; has he not himself had plenty of periods of worry when people unexpectedly are absent, when his mind flies to all that might have befallen them?

But friends, most often, and family. Not strangers in a coffee shop.

Still, it is hard to know what to say. He settles, after a moment, for the simple truth. "There was no accident, no seriousness. I had to attend a ceremony, that was all, and I thought I may as well make a holiday of it." He smiles. "It is good to see you well, too. How are your studies?"