h opinion of academic honesty."

A young woman of exceptional intelligence and ability, Andrea had
graduated from Belmont, summa cum laude, with a BA, after completion of
a double, self-designed major. Because of her great love and knowledge
of books, she found employment in the library where she soon became
indispensable. There were those at Belmont who recognized and revered
exceptional ability and were not threatened by it.

On being questioned as to what she knew about work conditions in NERD,
she observed that from what she had heard from Diana, it wasn't a very
happy place to work. Directing her answer toward Trenchant, she
divulged, "You were not my only source for this information. My aunt
works in the department and I heard from both of you enough to form
that impression.

"Just last month, my aunt told me that you may have been given an
excessive course load in an attempt to break your spirit or drive you
out of the department, much in the same way that she was given a very
minimum salary increase, in an attempt to get her to move on."

Andrea continued by confirming that the laboratory manual that had been
used in the course for two years was indeed written by Diana in her own
home, with her own equipment and on her own time. She, Andrea, had
witnessed this and had helped with the proof reading.

Feigning a bored expression that he did not feel, Henry asked if she
had any evidence specific to the critiques in question.

"No, nothing specific, except if she were out to discredit someone on
the faculty, she would certainly have brains enough to do something
effective--not play with SmurFFs," Andrea delivered, with a chuckle.
Then she continued in a serious, almost censoring tone, "I'm surprised
that you actually take this charge seriously. You should have better
sense. The whole campus is laughing at you."

As Henry seemed on the verge of apoplexy, Anuse quickly asked who her
aunt was.

Andrea looked directly at him and answered, "Dr. Biggot. She teaches
nutrition to the freshman medical students."

Esther wanted to be clear. "Your aunt confirmed in both cases, hers
and Trenchant, that this was an underlying way of getting rid of them."

"Exactly. She felt that they were not welcome in the department and
that this was a way to encourage them to move on."

"Now, we'll have no more of this," Henry interjected, "we really can't
take second hand information here. I have already warned you peo