"A notorious geek and gull," I said, borrowing from a more distinguished writer.
Lillah stared at me with misgiving.
"But why don't the diplomists say what's true?" she asked.
"Because," I said, "they'd lose their money and nobody would love them."
"But," said Phyllis, "Mummie said if we were good everyone would love us."
"Your mother was quite right," I answered, with a distinct twinge of that thin-ice feeling.
"Well, but you said nobody would love diplomists if they were good," said Phyllis.
"So good people aren't loved," added Lillah, "and Mummie said what wasn't true."
I fought desperately for a reply. This could not be allowed to pass. It struck at the roots of nursery constitutionalism.
"Ah," I said, without any pretence at logic, "but the poor diplomatists don't know any better."