Something must be done, he reflected; it was heart-breaking, this woe, this smileless misery, this dull despair that looked out from his poor friend's face.

Yes, he must be cheered up.

He mused a while, then he saw his way.

He said in his most conspicuously casual vein: "Er--uh--by the way, Hawkins, we are feeling disappointed about this thing--the way the materializee is acting, I mean--we are disappointed; you concede that ?" "Concede it?
Why, yes, if you like the term." "Very well; so far, so good.

Now for the basis of the feeling.