‘And then there are people,’ Andrew continued, ‘who think that we’re called the Green Hotel because we’re green in the sense of being environmentally friendly. But we’re not.’

Pat made a face of mock disapproval, making Andrew laugh. ‘Oh, don’t get the wrong idea. We’re very conscious of environmental issues. We recycle like mad. Glass. Paper. Everything. It’s just that our name is nothing to do with that.’

Having accepted Andrew’s invitation to dinner, she began to wish that she had not. She toyed with the idea of calling it off, and already had an excuse lined up when he called her on the phone to confirm the arrangement. They could go to the Dominion Cinema, he said, and there was a Nepalese restaurant almost opposite, on Morningside Road. ‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ he said. ‘I love Nepalese food. I love Indian food too, of course. And Thai.’ He paused, before adding, ‘And Chinese.’

She did not have the heart to cancel. ‘Tell him you can’t go out because you have to wash your hair,’ counselled Lizzie. ‘It’s such an outrageous excuse that even the dimmest boy gets the message. Or you can give an even stronger message by saying that you can’t go out because your friend has to wash her hair.’

‘I can’t do that,’ said Pat. ‘I couldn’t keep a straight face. And he’s sweet enough, I suppose, in a funny sort of way …’

‘Sweet? Be careful, Pat. Lots of boys are sweet. Sweet but boring.’

Pat sighed. ‘I know, I know. But if you say that you’ll go out with somebody you can’t just …’

Lizzie cut her short. ‘Can’t suddenly remember that you have to wash your hair? Of course you can. You have to, Pat. Otherwise you just make it worse. It’s far more difficult to get out of something after you’ve got further in. So don’t go there in the first place.’

Pat knew that what Lizzie said was true, but she could not bring herself to phone Andrew and tell him a blatant lie. So when the time came she went off with him to the Dominion Cinema and went for a Nepalese meal afterwards. Andrew talked a lot about Ayrshire and about the things that had happened in his parents’ hotel. One of the guests had flooded a bathroom once and another had caused a small fire by trying to iron something on top of the bed.

‘People do really stupid things,’ he said. ‘You wouldn’t believe it, Pat. They can be really stupid.’

Pat agreed.

‘And then there was another guest who left his dog in the room. We went in and found the dog sleeping on a chair.’

‘Did you give the dog back?’