Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 5.pdf/54

 "Big as horses," said Bensington.

"Bigger," said Redwood. "That's just it!"

Bensington turned away from the specimen. "Redwood," he said, "these fowls are going to create a sensation."

Redwood nodded his head at the fire.

"And by Jove!" said Bensington, coming round suddenly with a flash in his spectacles, "so will your little boy!"

"That's just what I'm thinking of," said Redwood.

He sat back, sighed, threw his unconsumed cigarette into the fire and thrust his hands deep into his trouser pockets. "That's precisely what I'm thinking of. This Herakleophorbia is going to be queer stuff to handle. The pace that chick must have grown at!"

"A little boy growing at that pace," said Mr. Bensington slowly, and stared at the chick as he spoke.

"I say!" said Bensington, "he'll be Big."

"I shall give him diminishing doses," said Redwood. "Or at any rate Winkles will."

"It's rather too much of an experiment."

"Much."

"Yet still, you know, I must confess Some baby will sooner or later have to try it."

"Oh, we'll try it on some baby—certainly."

"Exactly so," said Bensington, and came and stood on the hear-thrug and took off his spectacles to wipe them.

"Until I saw these chicks, Redwood, I don't think I began to realise—anything—of the possibilities of