As if a spell had been cast over them, people stopped talking, dishes stopped rattling and the restaurant was silent. Ruth felt convinced Matt’s words had been audible to the entire room, rendering everyone as dumbstruck as she was herself. Then somebody laughed and, all of a sudden, conversation began again and the babble was almost deafening. “Actually,” Matt said thoughtfully, “I’d sooner put it another way; before I suggest we get married, which is a different thing altogether. It makes it seem more of a mutual decision, rather than a proposal.” “Is this some sort of a joke?” Ruth said eventually. “It would be a pretty lousy joke if it were.” “But it’s crazy. The whole thing’s completely crazy. I can’t believe it’s not a joke.” Perhaps it was April Fool’s Day? But that was long past. She began to fumble for her gloves, her bag. Almost in tears with embarrassment and irritation and the conviction she was being made a fool of, she again got up to leave, but once again Matt reached out and clasped her arm firmly to prevent her.
