Mr Beach was too well bred to be inquisitive, but his eyebrows here not.'Ah!' he said.'?', cried the eyebrows. '? ? ?'Ashe ignored the eyebrows....Mr Beach's eyebrows were still mutely urging him to reveal all, but Ashe directed his gaze at that portion of the room which Mr Beach did not fill. He was hanged if he was going to let himself be hypnotized by a pair of eyebrows into incriminating himself.
In the scene described, Mr. Beach embodies a well-mannered character who restrains his curiosity, yet his expressive eyebrows seemingly betray his thoughts, prompting questions without uttering a word. Despite this silent confrontation, Ashe consciously opts to reject the silent pressure to divulge information. His determination not to be swayed by Beach's unspoken communication highlights a tension between propriety and the urge to conceal his own secrets.
Ashe's focus on another part of the room reflects his defiance against being drawn into a confession. The humor lies in the exaggerated expression of Beach's eyebrows, which serve as a comedic device, emphasizing the internal struggle Ashe faces. Through this interaction, Wodehouse cleverly illustrates the social dynamics at play, where non-verbal cues can be as powerful as spoken words, leading to a battle of wills marked by wit and subtlety.
