[ A very wide-eyed pause. Midnight's somewhat taken aback. How sudden!

Well, he does nod, eventually. ]

I'm rather the same myself, my darling. On both counts. Although, you know, I don't think that improves the circumstances any...

[ He reaches up and pushes her hair back with a hand. ]

No need to fret, love. I can guarantee that my dedication to bachelorhood, in spite of everything, has landed me in enough dire straits to understand how these things do, in fact, get. I like you, but it's quite all right to leave it at that.