"Of course he ought," said Anthony. "Whoever goes first, it isn't Nicky."
"You ought to think of Mummy, Daddy ducky; and you ought to think of us," said Dorothy.
"I," said John, "haven't got anybody to think of. I'm not going to be married, and I haven't any children."
"I haven't got a wife and children yet," said Nicky.
"You've got Veronica. You ought to think of her."
"I am thinking of her. You don't suppose Veronica'd stop me if I wanted to go? Why, she wouldn't look at me if I didn't want to go."
Suddenly he remembered Michael.
"I mean," he said, "after my saying that I was going."
Their eyes met. Michael's flickered. He knew that Nicky was thinking of him.
"Then Ronny knows?" said Frances.