Boys will be boys
Almost everybody in the White Slides knew that there was something between Wilson and Columbine (except of themselves, of course). And when Lewis, the worker of the rancho, tells Wade a story about them, mentioning that “I seen he was sweet on the gal an' I sure couldn't blame him.”, he (Wade) laughs with “grim confirmation” because it was obvious for him before Lewis’ story: “Well, boys will be boys. I was young once an' had my day”. The irony is used for highlighting that it often happens that we are told obvious things which are not worth mentioning.
Endless care and nothing more
After the fight with Wilson Jack Bellounds was also wounded and bruised. His eye was bandaged and he couldn’t no eat nor drink, and he was angry. But Columbine didn’t care about him and she wanted to irritate Jack, so he began talking how bad he looks like: “You're very pale—and red in spots. And your one eye glows with unearthly woe, as if you were not long for this world!” she meant her words but she was saying it with a shadow of sarcasm. Jack understood that and asked why she is laughing at him but Columbine said that she really cares about him and asked if he is going to be married with one eye. The irony shows how much Columbine hated Jack, she saw that he was in pain but it meant nothing for her.
A letter or a book?
Wilson and Columbine are both sick, they cant see each other but there is a man who helps them to keep in touch. It is Wade, he takes letters from Wilson and brings them to Columbine and vice versa. And one day Wilson was so absorbed by writing the letter than Wade was waiting him for a long time. So, he wondered if Wilson didn’t write the book by chance. And Wilson answered that sure he is, and asked him to wait a little more. There the passionate love of Wilson Moore was laughed at.
