I've been working on my sequel to EM Forster's "Maurice" off and on; hand-stitching is a really good writing method for me. Hands busy, brain in Warp One--Engage! I've just realized that I hadn't given Auntie Morgan enough credit for his cleverness with the language. I just ran across the word "scud" used as a nautical term in "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years" by Rachel Field--recommended by the inimitable Tiggy (ha, Tiggs, that word's bigger than you!). I turned to the dictionary:
intr.v. scud·ded, scud·ding, scuds
1. To run or skim along swiftly and easily: dark clouds scudding by.
2. Nautical: To run before a gale with little or no sail set.
Now why in the nine worlds I hadn't thought to look the word up years ago is a complete mystery to me (Bad Reference Librarian! No NYT Book Review for you!). But--wow, Auntie Morgan: Alec Scudder, Maurice claiming his name is Scudder just as his fear of who he is and who Alec is to him disappears. @_@ Auntie Morgan FTW! Now I love him more than ever.
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