He detected Mr. Lyall rising. His attention glided over, with a small turn and tilt of his head.

When it occurred enough that he was in fact approaching, with a mental jump to attention, Anthony straightened up a bit in place and aimed over a smile - weighted down, still, with some diffidence. At what he did think he caught as a trace of sternness the "Hi, sir," he'd preemptively started to form bent into a "Yes, sir?"

It had been another month and still in front of Lyall as well as Dr. Strider some feeling nastily clung of exposure and abashment.