The next morning Roe went to fetch Christopher from day school. They were shy of each other. He wanted to buy him sweets but could not hear which shop the boy said was best, Christopher was so low off the ground, and he was rather deaf. It may have been politeness, but his son let him go by three which would have done, until, in the end, they came to almost the last shop in this small street, a stationer’s. He took him in to look. There were no sweets, but he bought a children’s paper Christopher wanted, then led him back to the shop he knew Dy liked, where she got her chocolate. It may now have been that the child’s shyness of other school children, or the shyness of being alone with his father, was beginning to wear off, but when they got back to this particular shop Christopher said distinctly this was the best in town. It was the first thing Roe had really heard him say all morning, which was unusual because as a rule the child would shout the few things he wanted.

They bought a great deal, so much that Roe was afraid his son would only remember the leave by how ill he had been. The old man who served them was tiresome. Christopher said yes to whatever was offered. Roe began to feel the boy might not be having his own choice. He could pick nothing for himself. It is possible that he was confused by the amount he was getting. But he seemed satisfied, although he had not lost his reserve. He stayed silent until they had walked the few yards home, when he ran on ahead to shew some of the sweets to his cousin. Roe carried the rest to the nursery. Christopher asked if he could have lunch downstairs. Roe had not expected this. The house was full of people. He was relieved when the nanny had a good reason against.

After lunch father and son were to take a walk alone. When Christopher was punctually brought down ready to go out, Roe found that he himself was shy. The child seemed so unapproachably young. We can do little more, in this world than be ordinary and natural to each other and it was just this which, so he thought, it was so difficult to be.

There had, as yet, been no raids on London. Because this was his first leave, Roe felt that it might be his last, that the moment he got back to the substation he might be in the thick of it, after the fruitless waiting.

Also this was to be their first walk alone together. Whereas in the old days he could have arranged it any afternoon. He felt now, and he could not tell Christopher, that they might never go for a walk again.