CHAPTER VIII

NATHALIE-AT-ARMS They had a horrible dinner that evening, the three of them, with Bigges in solemn attendance. The silver shone, the flowers gleamed, thunder rumbled through the vegetables. Nathalie, helping herself to cauliflower (which, from her childhood, she had detested), realised that Uncle Hans was frightened. He was being terribly friendly to Aunt Ruth--'Yes,' he was saying, 'I quite agree with you. Egypt is too far, and nowhere nearer is really warm that month.' Nathalie trembled. What had she done? Here t…