You can imagine how I stared afresh at this. In fact, I stopped turning the wheel.
Deftly taking the handle from me, Colonel Fielding began turning it in my place rhythmically, easily. I stood there beside him, watching him blankly.
I remembered Elizabeth's forlorn mood of last night. I went back to her, as I'd seen her this morning, turning to the kitchen, where she was to help Mrs. Price bake. Her small face under its thick crop had been set with the determination to let work drive away trouble. For trouble, I knew, had been as heavy at her heart as it was at my own. Then was all that altered already?
"What!" I exclaimed. "You've seen her this morning?"
His eyes under their long lashes did not leave the turning-wheel. He only said gently:
"No, I haven't seen her this morning."
"But——" I exclaimed. I knew he could not have seen her last night after we got back to camp.
"You haven't even asked her yet?" I said.
"No," he agreed. "I haven't asked her yet." And he went on turning that big red wheel as if he were a Fate in khaki. After half a dozen turns he added, "But I am going to marry her, for all that."
Rebukefully I said, "You mean you're going to marry her if she'll have you?"