The natural world seemed to respond in sympathy to the new couple, the sun seemed brighter, colours more vivid, perhaps the Coal tits were commenting on the couple with their birdsong. Yet as they walked, a subject weighed on Bert. He felt it best to bring it up now. His plodding policeman's pace slowed even more as if there was a clue that caught his eye.

"Delilah," he paused, the words large and pregnant hanging in his mouth like some terrible sword of judgement. "Do you want a family..in the future?"