Lysander nodded, but stayed behind August's legs. August offered him his hand again and the child latched onto it.

"We're being a little shy," August said easily; he was not enormously surprised that Lysander was nervous about her, even though Mrs. Selwyn did not cut a very imposing figure. His son usually just needed a few minutes to warm up to strangers, because he encountered them so rarely. "Our trip was lovely, though, nice and easy."

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