No; why be bored by the military man?

"I thank you, Captain Simmons, for the offer," Rebecca says with a smile. "Still, I think it best that we stay here..."

"Speak for yourself!" Alice chirps, taking Simmons's arm. Rebecca tries desperately to signal her younger sister with her eyes: No. Absolutely not. Do not do it. Alice, however, either does not receive the message or ignores it. "I would love a turn about the grounds, Captain Simmons. Shall we?"

"Er...of course. Thank you," the Captain says. He gives Rebecca a little smile and a nod. "Miss Foxhaven." Taking Alice's arm, he leads the younger girl out of the parsonage.

Outside, Alice and Captain Simmons make their way around the corner of the small, stone cottage that serves as the parsonage and onto the wider lawn behind it. {if Simmons-Alice > 0}"It's a delight to see you again, Captain Simmons," Alice exclaims. "How have you been finding your time in Highbury?"

{else}"Tell me, how are you enjoying your time in Highbury?" Alice asks. "Do you find yourself dreadfully bored out here in the country?"

"Bored? I'm afraid not," {endif}Simmons sighs. "Truth be told, my duties keep me extremely busy and I am newly commissioned to this rank. I find myself exhausted by the end of most days, and hardly have time to think clearly - except at social occasions such as these. Which I must admit offer a welcome reprieve." He offers her a small smile.

Alice frowns. "Well, that certainly does not sound like the reason one becomes an officer! You should be able to enjoy the perquisites of your station as well as its duties. Surely you must be able to relax and blow off steam somehow?"

"I am not, I must admit, one for many of the officers' traditional relaxations - cards, drink, dice," Simmons comments. "So I do find it rather difficult to relax, when I am done for the day."

Alice scowls. This won't do at all! Surely she can come up with something to help this good man relax - and endear herself to him in the process! Her mind races...