But it serves no longer, not because it's damaged, but because the need for it has changed its nature or is no longer there." He trailed off into silence and stopped.
Arnold stirred to get out his pouch.

"The sea is shifty, though," he said.

"If they keep the breakwater in decent repair, it'll come in handy again." "Yes," burst out Peter.

"But, of course, that's where illustrations are so little good: you can't press them.

And in any case no engineer worth his salt would sit down by his breakwater and smoke a pipe till the sea came in handy again.