The children stared at him, awed and a little afraid. For a moment he was a stranger, someone they did not know. Jane had a sudden fantastic feeling that Great-Uncle Merry did not really exist at all, and would vanish away if they breathed or spoke.
The children observed their Great-Uncle Merry with a mix of wonder and trepidation. For a brief moment, he seemed like an unfamiliar figure, evoking a sense of awe among them. This feeling was so intense that Jane questioned his reality, imagining that he might simply disappear if they interrupted the silence.
This moment illustrates the children's perception of Great-Uncle Merry as a mysterious and possibly magical presence. Their blend of fear and fascination hints at the deeper themes of wonder and the unknown that permeate Susan Cooper's storytelling in "Over Sea, Under Stone," emphasizing the significance of the characters’ journey into a seemingly fantastical world.