Late in August, however, he wrote a rather colourless letter to Selwyn,
saying that he was tired and would be down for the week-end.
He came, thinner than usual, with the city pallor showing through traces
of the sea tan. And it appeared that he was really tired; for he seemed
inclined to lounge on the veranda, satisfied as long as Selwyn remained
in sight. But, when Selwyn moved, he got up and followed.
So subdued, so listless, so gentle in manner and speech had he become
that somebody, in his temporary absence, wondered whether the boy were
perfectly well--which voiced the general doubt hitherto unexpressed.
But Austin laughed and said that the boy was merely finding himself; and
everybody acquiesced, much relieved at the explanation, though to Selwyn
the explanation was not at all satisfactory.
There was trouble somewhere, stress of doubt, pressure of apprehension,
the gravity of immaturity half realising its own inexperience. And one
day in September he wrote Gerald, asking him to bring Edgerton Lawn and
come down to Silverside for the purpose of witnessing some experiments
with the new smokeless explosive, Chaosite.
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