“Don’t be upset,” she said steadily. “It’s no good being upset. Do you really want to be together with me?”

She looked with wide, steady eyes into his face. He stopped, and went suddenly still, turning his face aside. All his body went perfectly still, but did not withdraw.

Then he lifted his head and looked into her eyes, with his odd, faintly mocking grin, saying: “Ay-ay! Let’s be together on oath.”

“But really?” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

“Ay really! Heart an’ belly an’ cock.”

He still smiled faintly down at her, with the flicker of irony in his eyes, and a touch of bitterness.