‘No,’ he said, coming back. ‘But she won’t be long. You wanted to speak to her?’

Birkin looked across at the other man with curious calm, clear eyes.

‘As a matter of fact,’ he said, ‘I wanted to ask her to marry me.’

A point of light came on the golden-brown eyes of the elder man.

‘O-oh?’ he said, looking at Birkin, then dropping his eyes before the calm, steadily watching look of the other: ‘Was she expecting you then?’

‘No,’ said Birkin.

‘No? I didn’t know anything of this sort was on foot — ’ Brangwen smiled awkwardly.