No, it's-- [ probing, yes, something he wants to talk about at length, no, but, ] fine.

[ She is agreeing to help him, after all. And if he can't wholly dispel the possibility he might be a spy (is anyone really a spy, before they turn?), he can at least try to put her mind at ease. The last thing he needs to be is a suspected spy. ]

We don't learn very much about the South. I don't think Southerners realize exactly how little.

[ And he's not eager to inform everyone. ]

But you, no one expects you to know anything. I just think that's a more useful place to start -- from scratch, without anyone assuming you already know half the rules or eat babies for breakfast or whatever.