Desmond watched her while she spoke with undisguised admiration.
"Would you say that with the same assurance, I wonder, if it were John? Or if it happened to be—your own husband?"
A rush of colour flooded her face, but she had strength enough not to turn it aside.
"Of course I would."
"Then I sincerely hope you will marry one of us, Honor. Wives of that quality are too rare to be wasted on civilians!"
This time she bent her head.
"I should never dream of marrying any one—but a soldier," she answered very low. "Now I must go back to my poor Evelyn and help her to see things more from your point of view."
"How endlessly good to us you are," he said with sudden fervour. "I know I can count on you to keep her up to the mark, and not let her make herself too miserable while we are away."
"Yes—yes. I am only so thankful to be here with her—this first time."