That in itself is exactly the problem, so far as Emily was concerned. People weren't tidy. And as long as Snow and the others in authority tried to look for those sort of neat solutions, the problems would just grow bigger and bigger.

She's tempted to tell Quintus just that, but she knows there's a line and she's not sure at what point she'll have crossed it. Instead she's going to take the opportunity to change the subject, though her mind goes blank trying to think of anything safer.

"Some party, huh?" she says rather lamely, grasping at straws.