They heard the guard call LAST PICCADILLY LINE TRAIN, kissed quickly and Emmy ran. Just as she jumped on the tube Harry called loudly after her in a parody of themselves and their profession:

You were wonderful darling.

*

Frances and Milton drove home to Frances’ flat: as always he parked under the streetlight outside and thanked her for an enjoyable evening. He had always kissed her decorously on the cheek under the light, northing more.

‘Your friend was very good,’ said Milton.

‘I know,’ said Frances, ‘she’s a wonderful actress and doesn’t always get the chance to show it, this’ll be so good for her. And it was lovely of you to take everyone to dinner like that – it wasn’t necessary Milton, but it was lovely.’

‘I have enjoyed meeting other actors through you,’ he said. ‘It is not like that for me in Switzerland and I am – well Frances, I am returning home tomorrow. We completed the commercial today.’

‘Tomorrow?’

‘Yes it is tomorrow.’

‘Will you be back?’

‘Ah – it is possible. I do not yet know.’

A sudden bleakness descended on Frances who for almost four weeks had had a different kind of life. It wasn’t much perhaps but she had had someone to go out with, plan with, be with. And more than that. She had seen what a kind man he was, and had begun to care for him.

‘You didn’t say,’ she said finally.

‘No,’ he said, ‘I didn’t say. I should have. I apologise Frances.’

For a moment they were silent and then Frances sighed. ‘Well Milton, let’s be reckless, come in and have a drink if this is goodbye.’

‘No more drink,’ said Milton carefully. Conflicting emotions seemed to flit across his face in the light from the streetlight.

‘Come on Milton, I won’t eat you, a cup of coffee at least.’

‘Very well.’

He stood rather stiffly in her kitchen as she made coffee, they took it into the sitting room. Frances sat beside him on the sofa, put her coffee on the floor, took a deep breath and kissed him very firmly on the mouth. He responded ardently for a moment, and then pulled away.

‘I am not sure this is a good idea Frances,’ he said and his voice sounded strange.

Frances, who was breathing rather heavily, gave a little laugh. ‘As I said Milton, I’m not going to eat you, I’ve only kissed you.’ She was still catching her breath from his kiss, her bosom heaving.