Question

NCERT X
English: Literature Reader

A Shady Plot
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When confronted by Lavinia about his flirtations over the Ouija Board, John insists that 'the affair was quite above-board, I assure you, my love'. Bring out the pun in John's statement.

Answer 1

The phrase ‘above-board’ means ‘legal and honest’.  It is in this sense that John uses it to say that there is nothing unfair in  his affair with Helen.  But the word ‘board’ here can also be taken to mean the Ouija board.  It can mean that John’s affair with Helen was not through the Ouija board but through something above the board.