"You can be a secret. Or a part-secret. I don't have anyone to tell, anyway. Not that I would tell, if I had someone to tell, but just so that you don't worry, I'm very good at keeping secrets. Secrets seem to like me."

He stares down at his empty glass almost accusatorily, wondering when he'd run out of his drink and if it was obvious that he was feeling the effects of it. What a lightweight Ned must think he was! Most guys would be able to handle more than two relatively light drinks before feeling this intoxicated, but then, he wasn't much like most guys in a lot of ways.

"I'm sorry, I'm drunk. I can't hide that secret. I'm all red, aren't I? Alcohol does that to me. Makes me look ridiculous." He is, indeed, a bit pinker than he'd been when they'd come into the bar.