Chapter 2

           Mr.FosterwasleftintheDecantingRoom.TheD.H.C.andhisstudentssteppedintothenearestliftandwerecarrieduptothefifthfloor.

           INFANTNURSERIES.NEO-PAVLOVIANCONDITIONINGROOMS,announcedthenoticeboard.

           TheDirectoropenedadoor.Theywereinalargebareroom,verybrightandsunny;forthewholeofthesouthernwallwasasinglewindow.Halfadozennurses,trouseredandjacketedintheregulationwhiteviscose-linenuniform,theirhairasepticallyhiddenunderwhitecaps,wereengagedinsettingoutbowlsofrosesinalongrowacrossthefloor.Bigbowls,packedtightwithblossom.Thousandsofpetals,ripe-blownandsilkilysmooth,likethecheeksofinnumerablelittlecherubs,butofcherubs,inthatbrightlight,notexclusivelypinkandAryan,butalsoluminouslyChinese,alsoMexican,alsoapoplecticwithtoomuchblowingofcelestialtrumpets,alsopaleasdeath,palewiththeposthumouswhitenessofmarble.

           ThenursesstiffenedtoattentionastheD.H.C.camein.

           "Setoutthebooks,"hesaidcurtly.

           Insilencethenursesobeyedhiscommand.Betweentherosebowlsthebooksweredulysetout–arowofnurseryquartosopenedinvitinglyeachatsomegailycolouredimageofbeastorfishorbird.

           "Nowbringinthechildren."

           Theyhurriedoutoftheroomandreturnedinaminuteortwo,eachpushingakindoftalldumb-waiterladen,onallitsfourwire-nettedshelves,witheight-month-oldbabies,allexactlyalike(aBokanovskyGroup,itwasevident)andall(sincetheircastewasDelta)dressedinkhaki.

           "Putthemdownonthefloor."