Chapter 16: Mr. Benjy Loses Interest

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌⁠Barry awoke the next morning in a rather depressed mood, for which the weather was not wholly to blame. Outside the window the rain was pouring in torrents. The brick path to the gate was plastered with drowned leaves, and in the narrow beds at each side the bare stalks of the salvias arose from a tangle of withered nasturtium vines like soldiers tottering in a last stand against the enemy. The li