But Peter was ready, and answered her with such simple sincerity that she could not question him further.
“I guess, Eve, if the boy has had any trouble, or shock, he’ll tell you of it when he wakes––if he wants you to know. I don’t reckon if I did know that I’d have a right to speak while he––he was asleep. I say––if I did know.”
“I see.” Then the girl smiled up into his face a little whimsically. “You men have a curious code of honor in your dealings with each other. Quite different to us women.”
Peter nodded.
“Yep,” he said, “we haven’t the same perspective.”
The eastern horizon was lighting with a golden shadow and the sky-line was faintly silhouetted against it. It was the soft, effulgent light which heralded the full, rising moon. Eve watched it in silence for some moments. Peter followed the direction of her eyes while he went on speaking.
“When are you getting married, Eve?”
The question came hesitatingly.
“Then you know. Of course you know. You always seem to know, and yet you don’t seem to nose about like Anthony Smallbones. I’m going to be married in two months.”