[ He watches as Ricky, yeah it's so going to be Ricky, scales Dick's pant leg like it's Everest before settling down to play. The sight alone makes a fond glow start deep in his chest, the kind that spreads up and out until it's in his fingertips. He really doesn't want to get rid of them, they feel like the next step in settling, just like the big double bed and the farm and the vegetable plot. ]

All of them? [ His expression doesn't change, almost frozen on his smile. The three that aren't currently occupied with biting Dick start tumbling about in the dust and the hay and Nix turns to watch them. ] Are you sure she can handle all of them? I mean, they're kind of a handful. [ Even he has to admit that. ] And she has the two girls, right? I'm not sure I like the look of the oldest one.

[ Completely conversational. ] Jane at the post-office told me she caught her throwing stones at a bird once. I mean do we really want a kid like that looking after four young cats?