"This afternoon, when he made you come with him here?"

"How do you mean, 'say anything'?"

"You know what I mean."

"Mick?"

"Yes. Did he ask you to marry him?"

"No. He said a lot of funny things, but he didn't say that. He wouldn't."

"Why wouldn't he?"

"Because--he just wouldn't."

"Well, he says he understands you."

"Then," said Veronica conclusively, "of course he wouldn't."