eruresfortheMothers’Union.He’swhatyoumightcallabornchairmaellsyouhowdelightedweallaretohaveMrSo-and-sooformtonight,youseethathebelievesit.Ineverlookathimwithoutthinkingthathe’sprobablyavirgilelecturertookoutawadofnotes,chieflyneercuttings,andpihemdownwithhisglassofwater.Thenhegaveaquicklickathislipsaoshoot.

    Doyouevergotolectures,publicmeetings,andwhat-not?

    WhenIgotoonemyself,there’salwaysamomentduringtheeveningwhenIfindmyselfthinkingthesamethought:Whythehellarewedoingthis?Whyisitthatpeoplewillturnoutonawinternightforthiskindofthing?Ilookedroundthehall.Iwassittinginthebackrow.Idon’teverremembergoingtoanykindofpublicmeetingwhenIdidn’tsitinthebackrowifIa.Hildaahershadplahemselvesinfront,asusual.Itwasratheragloomylittlehall.Youknowthekindofplace.Pitch-pinewalls,catedironroof,andenoughdraughtstomakeyouwanttokeepyourovercoatoleknotofusweresittinginthelightrouform,withaboutthirtyrowsofemptychairsbehindus.Asofallthechairsweredusty.Oformbehiurertherewasahugesquarethingdrapedindust-clothswhichmighthavebeenanenormouscoffinunderapall.Actuallyitiano.

    AtthebeginningIwaslylistening.Thelecturerwasratheramean-lookinglittlechap,butagoodspeaker.Whiteface,verymobilemouth,ahergratingvoicethattheygetfromstantspeaking.OfcourseheitgintoHitlerandtheNazis.Iwasn’tparticularlykeentohearwhathewassayihesamestuffintheNewsicleeverym—buthisvoicecameacrosstomeasakindofburr-burr-burr,withnowandagainaphrasethatstruckoutandcaughtmyattention.

    ‘Bestialatrocities....Hideousoutburstsofsad