I think the phrase didn't have currency until much later than the period in which Autumn Term was written, but I think what Lois is up to is a mixture of "plausible deniability" and dither. I think it does start off (mostly) as her changing her mind, but it turns into plausible deniability later on.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-05-30 08:26 am (UTC)