She looked perplexed. "Lots of people have," she admitted.
"But—you see—I mean—I've never been here before."
She moved away from him. "Lots of people haven't." She admitted that, too.
John Quincy took a deep breath. What was this discussion he had got into, anyhow? He had a quick impulse to lift his hat gallantly and walk away, letting the whole matter drop. But no, he came of a race that sees things through.
"I'm from Boston," he said.
"Oh," said the girl. That explained everything.
"And what I'm trying to make clear—although of course there's no reason why I should have dragged you into it—"
"None whatever," she smiled. "But go on."
"Until a few days ago I was never west of New York, never in my whole life, you understand. Been about New England a bit, and abroad a few times, but the West—"
"I know. It didn't interest you."