“Except when he’s speechifying,” said Ray.
“And Leonore says he talks and jokes a great deal,” said Watts.
“I never knew any one who is deceiving herself so about a man,” said Dorothy. “It’s terrible. What do you think she had the face to say to me to-day?”
“What?”
“She was speaking of their plans after returning from the wedding journey, and she said: ‘I am going to have Peter keep up his bachelor quarters.’ ‘Does he say he’ll do it?’ I asked. ‘I haven’t spoken to him,’ she replied, ‘but of course he will.’ I said: ‘Leonore, all women think they rule their husbands, but they don’t in reality, and Peter will be less ruled than any man I know.’ Then what do you think she said?”
“Don’t keep us in suspense.”
“She said: ‘None of you ever understood Peter. But I do.’ Think of it! From that little chit, who’s known Peter half the number of months that I’ve known him years!”
“I don’t know,” sighed Lispenard. “I’m not prepared to say it isn’t so. Indeed, after seeing Peter, who never seemed able to understand women till this one appeared on the scene, develop into a regulation lover, I am quite prepared to believe that every one knows more than I do. At the same time, I can’t afford to risk my reputation for discrimination and insight over such a simple thing as Peter’s character. You’ve all tried to say what Peter is. Now I’ll tell you in two words and you’ll all find you are right, and you’ll all find you are wrong.”
“You are as bad as Leonore,” cried Dorothy.
“Well,” said Watts, “we are all listening. What is Peter?”