Unless, of course, he fears I may corrupt Aubrey. Evil communications, you know!' 'I shouldn't think you could,' she said, dispassionately considering the matter. She saw his lips quiver, and her own gravity vanished. 'Oh I don't mean that you would make the attempt! You know very well I don't! The thing is that even if you were to hold an *orgy* here the chances are he would only think it pretty tame, compared with the Romans, not to mention the Bacchae, who, from anything I discover, were precisely the sort of females one would wish a boy *not* to know about!' This view of the matter was almost too much for his self-control; it was a moment before he could command his voice enough to say: 'I promise you I won't hold any orgies which Aubrey is under my roof!' 'Oh, no, I know you would not! Though I must say,' she added, a gleam of un in her eyes, 'it would be worth it, only to see Nurse's face!' He laughed out at that, flinging back his head in whole-hearted enjoyment, gasping: 'Why, oh *why* did I never know you until now?