“I think that’s a very unkind thing to say.” “Faced up,” said Nigel with a shudder. “Such an utterly revolting term.” I don’t see why. The Oxford Group use it and” conea”Oh, for Heaven’s sake, have we gggyt to have the Oxford Group for breakfast?” “What’s all this, Ma? Is it Celia who’s been pinchmg those things, do you say? Is that why she’s not down to breakfast?” “I do not understand, please,” said Mr.
Akibombo.
Nobody enlightened him. They were all too anxious to say their own piece.
“Poor kid,” Len Bateson went on.
“Was she hard up or something?” “I’m not really surprised, you know,” said Sally slowly-“I always had a sort of idea. . .” “You are saying that it was Celia who spilt ink on my notes?” Elizabeth Johnston looked incredulous. “That seems to me surprising and hardly credible.” “Celia did not throw ink on your work,” said Mrs. Hubbard. “And I wish you would all stop discussing this. I meant to tell you all quietly later but-was “But Jean was listening outside the door last nifht,” said Valerie.
“I was not listening. I just happened to go-was “Come now, Bess,” said Nigel. “You know quite well who spilt the ink. I, said bad Nigel, with my little green phial. I spilt the ink.” “He didn’t. He’s only pretending! Oh Nigel, how can you be so stupid?” “I’m being noble and shielding you, Pat. Who borrowed my ink yesterday morning? You did.” “I do no t understand, please,” said Mr.
Akibombo.
“You don’t want to,” Sally told him.
“I’d keep right out of it if I were you.” Mr. Chandra Lal rose to his feet.
“You ask why is the Mau Mau? You ask why does Egypt resent the Suez Canal?” “Oh, hell!” said Nigel violently, and crashed his cup down on his saucer. “First the Oxford Group and now politics! At breakfast! I’m going.” He pushed back his chair violently and left the room.
“There’s a cold wind. Do take your coat.” Patricia rushed after him.
“Cluck, cluck, cluck,” said Valerie unkindly. “She’ll grow feathers and flap her wings soon.” The French girl, Genevieve, whose English was as yet not equal to following rapid exchanges had been listening to explanations hissed into her ear by Ren6. She now burst into rapid French, her voice rising to a scream.
“Comment dong? Ciest cette petite qui m’a vole mon compact? Ah, par example!
J’irais a la police. fe time supporterais pas une pareille. . .” Colin Mcationabb had been attempting to make himself heard for some time, but his deep superior drawl had been drowned by the higher pitched voices.
Abandoning his superior attitude he now brought down his fist with a heavy crash on the table and startled everyone into silence. The marmalade pot skidded off the table and broke.
“Will you hold your tongues, all of you, and hear me speak. I’ve never heard more crass ignorance and unkindness! Don’t any of you have even a nodding acquaintance with psychology? The girl’s not to be blamed, I tell you. She’s been going through a severe emotional crisis and she needs treating with the utmost sympathy and care-or she may remain unstable for life. I’m warning you. The utmost care-that’s what she needs.” “But after all,” said Jean, in a clear, priggish voice, “although I quite agree about being kind-we oughtn’t to condone that sort of thing, ought we? Stealing, I mean.” “Stealing,” said Colin. “This wasn’t stealing.
Och!
You make me sick-all of you.” “Interesting case, is she, Colin?” said Valerie and grinned at him.
“If you’re interested in the workings of the mind, yes.” “Of course, she didn’t take anything of mine-was began Jean, “but I do think-was “No, she didn’t take anything of yours,” said Colin, turning to scowl at her. “And if you knew in the least what that meant you’d maybe not be too pleased about it.eaong “Really, I don’t see-was “Oh, come on, Jean,” said Len Bateson.
“Let’s stop nagging and nattering. I’m going to be late and so are you.
They went out together. “Tell Celia to buck up,” he said over his shoulder.
“I should like to make formal protest,” said Mr.