Apology
Sir Kenneth Pickthorn's book review in this issue reminds me of the only occasion he ever Offered me an apology—and a very Pickthornian one it was. I was, as Leader of the House of Commons, engaged in a gentle debate on some constitutional issue, when Kenneth rose from the back benches to correct me. I replied that I thought I was right, but was diffident about dis- agreeing with someone who had tried to teach me at Cambridge the rudiments of constitutional history--'and jolly bad you were' came the com- ment from behind me. Afterwards, Kenneth waited for me behind the Speaker's chair as I went out.
`I'm so sorry I-said that,' he said, 'I didn't mean it.'
Not at all . . I began, but I was on the wrong tack.
`What I really meant to say,' said Kenneth, 'was that you were bad, but that RAB was worse.'
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