Miss Lamington's brows were slightly bent, as if in disapproval, and my own temper began to rise.
He had every kind of idiotic criticism--incompetence, faint-heartedness, corruption.

Where he got the stuff I can't imagine, for the most grousing Tommy, with his leave stopped, never put together such balderdash.

Worst of all he asked me to agree with him.
It took all my sense of discipline.

'I don't know much about the subject,' I said, 'but out in South Africa I did hear that the British leading was the weak point.

I expect there's a good deal in what you say.' It may have been fancy, but the girl at my side seemed to whisper 'Well done!' Wake and I did not remain long behind before joining the ladies; I purposely cut it short, for I was in mortal fear lest I should lose my temper and spoil everything.