"My wife," said Corliss.
Sundown doffed his sombrero sweepingly. "Welcome to Arizona, ma'am."
"This is my friend, Washington Hicks, Margery."
"Yes, ma'am," said Sundown. "It ain't my fault, neither. I had nothin' to say about it when they hitched that name onto me. I reckon I hollered, but it didn't do no good. Me pals"—and Sundown shrugged his shoulder—"mostly gents travelin' for their health—got to callin' me Sundown, which is more poetical. 'Course, when I got married—"
"Married!" exclaimed Corliss, grinning.
"You needn't to grin, Billy. Gettin' married's mighty responsible-like."
Corliss made a gesture of apology. "So you're homesteading the water-hole? Jack wrote to me about it. He didn't say anything about your getting married."
"Kind of like his not sayin' anything about your gettin' hitched up, eh? He said he was hearin' from you, but nothin' about Misses Corliss. Please to expect my congratulations, ma'am—and you, too, Billy."
"Thank you!" said Mrs. Corliss, smiling. "Will has told me a great deal about you."
"He has, eh? Well, I'm right glad to be acquainted by heresy. It kind of puts you on to what to expect. But say, it's hot here. If you'll drive back to me house, I'd sure like to show you the improvements."