Time was when you met someone, fell in love and got married. An arrangement worked out purely between the two of you.

Dragging counsellors into the relationship meant your union was either decidedly shaky or had irretrievably broken down.

Now, however, in the days of escalating divorce rates, couples are seeking therapy before they tie the knot - to make sure they are doing the right thing.

It's big business in America, with celebrity couples including supermodel Cindy Crawford and fiance Rande Gerber, and Friends star Courteney Cox and hubby-to-be David Arquette, forking out for pre-marital counselling.

On this side of the Atlantic, too, couples are signing up for weekend courses which help them to decide whether they are made for each other.

Seems like a lot of unnecessary stress - not to mention the expense. If two people need a third party to tell them whether they're suited, what will they do when they're man and wife and arguing over the washing-up - ring Relate?

Now I don't pretend to be an expert in the field of relationships, but for anyone who has the slightest doubt about taking the plunge, I have devised a simple quiz which, if taken seriously, will guarantee a marriage to last a lifetime...

1. You've had your hair done, had a complete make-over and bought a new dress. When you arrive home looking a million dollars, does your partner:

a). Leap up and shout: "Gosh, you look fantastic, let's go out somewhere special tonight."

b). Say: "And how much did that lot cost then?"

c). Raise his head slightly from beneath the newspaper, say: "Stick the kettle on, love," and carry on reading.

2. Your beloved is nipping to the local DIY store for some potting compost and you've asked him to call at Morrisons for a loaf of bread on the way back. Does he:

a). Return home promptly after ten minutes with his compost and your loaf.

b). Come home on time with his compost and a jar of coffee.

c). Turn up three hours later with his compost, 40 bedding plants, three propagators and a 6ft piece of trellis.

3. You've had a dreadful day at work - you've been given a dressing-down from your boss and you've been passed over for promotion. In the car on the way home, you pour out your troubles to your partner. Does he:

a). Offer an understanding shoulder to cry on, and spend the whole journey giving you a million and one reasons why you shouldn't let it get to you, before offering to run you a nice hot bath and cook you a special meal when you get home.

b). Say: "Oh, that's terrible," while fiddling with the CD player.

c). Pretend not to have heard, then say: "Yes, yes...look, I've just finished work - I don't moan to you about my problems," and completely change the subject.

How did you score? If your answers were mostly a: Your relationship is an unnatural sham. It will never survive. Steer clear of the altar.

Mostly b: You have some of the trademarks of a typical married couple, but not enough. It would probably peter out after a year or two.

Mostly c: Congratulations - you are the model Mr and Mrs. Your union will last forever.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.