"I'm not certain she does," he points out, joining Watson in petting Nell, and getting a lick of his own as reward. Things are so domestic, so normal again, and he can distinctly recall how he felt about this not too long ago, how stifling, unreal, rather like a novel their life now is. He still feels that restlessness, that inability to cope with so uneventful a life, but at least now he can appreciate the fact that he does love Watson and their dog and the fact they can live such a life here.

"We aren't exactly telling her otherwise, I hope you realize," he says teasingly, rubbing Nell's ears.