Richard's mother met Mrs K. and told her that Richard had a sore throat and that he was in bed, with a very slight temperature. She added that he had recently been even more worried about physical illness than previously. Mrs K. suggested that since the weather was fine it would do him no harm to come and she would wait for him.

Richard looked anxious and pale when he came. He had asked his mother to bring him to the door and also made her promise that she would fetch him. He said, ‘In any case I've got the fleet with me,’ put it on the table, and remained silent. His mood was totally different from that of the previous day—he was listless and depressed, and avoided looking at Mrs K. He told her that he had not wanted to get out of bed, and added that he really would have liked to stay in bed and read and read and would have liked Mrs K. to come and see him there.

Mrs K. asked him how he felt now.