Around him, above him, below him space--a thing
to be frightened of were one not held so tightly, so safely.
He approved, most assuredly, of the banishment of Mrs. Kant, and the
invasion of these splendid Things! He would have life always like this,
with that great blue ball to roll upon the floor, with that brown
beard, near now to his hand, to clutch, with none of that hideous
soap-in-the-eyes-early-to-bed Philosophy that he was becoming now conscious
enough to rebel against.
He dug his hands into the beard that was close to him and, like the sons of
the morning, shouted with joy.
Peter, looking up at the two Stephens, felt his burdens roll off his back.
If only things could be like this always! And already he saw himself,
through these two, making everything right once more with Clare. They
should prove to her that, after all, his past life had not been so
terrible, that Cornwall could produce heroes if it liked. Through these two
he would get fresh inspiration for his work. He felt already, through them,
a wind blowing that cleared all the dust from his brain.
And how splendid for the boy! To have two such men for his friends! Already
he was planning to persuade them to stay in London. He had thought of the
very place for them in Chelsea, near the Roundabout, the very house....
"Of course you'll stay for dinner, you two--"
"But--" said Mr.
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