There was even, I dare swear, at this safe distance, a smell of flowers in the air.
"It's a most lovely ..." Trenchard said, smiling at me, "spring here ...

I find...." I was compelled by some unexpected sense of fatherly duty to be practical.
"You've got your things ?" I said.

"You've found your seat ?" "Well, I didn't know ..." he stammered.
"Where are they ?" I asked him.
He was not quite sure where they were.

He stood, waving his hands, whilst the golden sunlight rippled over his face.

I was suddenly irritated.
"But please," I said, "there isn't much time.