Chapter 25The following evening Michael went for a drink in the Lamb and Lark with his friend, Peter. The clientele was exclusively male and working-class, and the air was thick with tobacco smoke and the sound of men's voices.
Peter began to speak about the girl he was going out with. 'She's a really nice sort, is Irene,' he said, 'but I'm not ready to get married, so I've got to be careful.'
'How do you mean?'
'Not to put her in the club, you know.'
'Oh, yes.'
'Well, I'd have no choice but to marry her then, would I?'
'No, I suppose not.'
'I'll be all right, though, because I use the rhythm method,' Peter swigged his beer.
Michael had no idea what this 'rhythm method' of Peter's might be; in fact, he had never even heard the phrase uttered before now, and he wondered whether it w
