Mr. Chandra Lal who had heard of the sabotage to Elizabeth's papers became excited and voluble.

"Oppression," he spluttered, "deliberate oppression of native races. Contempt and prejudice, colour prejudice. It is here well authenticated example." "Now, Mr. Chandra Lal," said Mrs.

Hubbard sharply. "You've no call to say anything of that kind. Nobody knows who did it or why it was done." "Oh but, Mrs. Hubbard, I thought Celia had come to you herself and really faced up," said Jean Tomlinson. "I thought it splendid of her. We must all be very kind to her." "Must you be so revoltingly pi, Jean?" demanded Valerie Hobhouse angrily.

"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!