"I hope so," he replied, quietly.
"Yes," said Lottie; "just think of it. He is going away out to the jumping-off place at the West, where he will have the border ruffians on one side and the scalping Indians on the other. You said you would marry the woman you loved, if you could. Do you think any real nice girl would go with you to such a horrible place?"
"I'm sure I don't know. If the one I want won't venture, I can go alone."
"Do you think she'll go?" asked Lottie, so innocently that the others had no slight task in controlling their faces.
"Who will go?" said Hemstead, quickly.
"The one whom you said you wanted to."
"Now I'm sure I did not mention any one," said Hemstead, blushing and laughing.
"Well, you did not exactly speak her name."
"No, I should think not, since I don't know it myself."
"How provoking!" pouted Lottie. "I thought we were going to have a nice little romance."