–  until finally it was over, and she stood and straightened  her face.“Dexter, I am so, so sorry . . .‘

"I‘m actually much better now.‘

  know  you  are,  I‘m  sorry.  I  apologise.‘  They  began  to  walk  again. "You  must  do  it, 

Dexter, if that‘s what you want.‘ She squeezed his arm with her elbow, but Dexter felt sulky. 

We‘ve always told you that you can be anything you want to be, if you work hard enough.‘

It was just a thought,‘ he said, petulantly. "I‘m weighing up my options, that‘s all.‘

Well I hope so, because teaching‘s a fine profession, but this isn‘t really your vocation, is 

it? Teaching Beatles songs to moony Nordic girls.‘

It‘s hard work, Mum. Besides it gives me something to fall back on.‘

Yes, well, sometimes I wonder if you have a little too much to fall back on.‘ She was looking  down  as  she  spoke  and  the  remark  seemed  to  rebound  off  the  flagstones.  They walked a little further before he spoke.

And what does that mean?‘