"Nanda RECOMMENDED it ?" "Oh no--the contrary." Tishy, as if scared by so much publicity, floundered a little.

"She only told me--" "The awful subject ?" Mrs.Brook wailed.
There was so deepening an echo of the drollery of this last passage that it was a minute before Vanderbank could be heard saying: "The responsibility's wholly mine for setting the beastly thing in motion.
Still," he added good-humouredly and as to minimise if not the cause at least the consequence, "I think I agree with Nanda that it's no worse than anything else." Mrs.Brook had recovered the volume from Mr.Longdon's relaxed hand and now, without another glance at it, held it behind her with an unusual air of firmness.

"Oh how can you say that, my dear man, of anything so revolting ?" The discussion kept them for the instant well face to face.

"Then did YOU read it ?" She debated, jerking the book into the nearest empty chair, where Mr.
Cashmore quickly pounced on it.

"Wasn't it for that you brought it me ?" she demanded.