“I am glad you did it for Zeb.”
“I should have done it for anybody—much as I like Zeb,” he replied briefly.
She glanced at him.
“It was—courageous of you,” she said.
“I have never looked upon it in that light,” he answered. “May I ask you how you heard of it?”
She coloured, but faced the question.
“I heard it from my father, at first, and I took an interest—on Zeb Meader's account,” she added hastily.
Austen was silent.
“Of course,” she continued, “I felt a little like boasting of an 'accidental acquaintance' with the man who saved Zeb Meader's life.”
Austen laughed. Then he drew Pepper down to a walk, and turned to her.