"But that's what makes it mean somethin' in the first place, that ye cannae do things like that, that ye dinnae jus' take it off, no matter how I'm talkin'." Why can't she see that? It had seemed like a pretty decisive move at the time, how was he not supposed to take away from it that she didn't want to marry him, no longer wanted to spend the rest of her life with him? It's hardly a requirement for it, but that's still what the stupid ring is supposed to mean. For a moment, it looks as if he's going to push himself back to his feet, but he seems to reconsider at the last moment, staying put for the time being. "At least once we get t' the real thing. Otherwise, what's the point?"