Energy books

"
"Nonsense, dad. I'm all right. I'm going downtown with you."
"Barry," said his father, "we have hard times before us, and you must be
fit. I ask you to go to bed and sleep there this forenoon. You're half
asleep now. This afternoon we shall face up to our job."
His father's voice was quietly authoritative and Barry yielded.
"All right, dad. I'll do as you say, and this afternoon--well, we'll
see."
At the noonday meal they were conscious of a mutual restraint. For the
first time in their lives they were not opening to each other their
innermost souls. The experience was as distressing as it was unusual.
The father, as if in dread of silence, was obviously exerting himself
to keep a stream of talk flowing. Barry was listening with a face very
grave and very unlike the bright and buoyant face he usually carried.
They avoided each other's eyes, and paid little heed to their food.
At length Barry pushed back his chair.
"Will you excuse me, dad," he said. "I think I shall step out a moment
into the garden.


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