“Oh, well, I’ll have to tell you, you have such good reasons for asking. No one in the world, or at least in the camp, knows it; but I am going in.”
“Aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid of what?”
“Oh, of falling into the water, or being beaten, or I don’t know what.”
“That remains to be seen,” said Ben, sitting suddenly erect. “Now one good turn is said to deserve another, so as you’ve had a turn at me, I’ll take mine now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going into the races?”
“Yes,” replied Miss Bessie, after a brief hesitation. “That is, if my father is willing; but I don’t want you to tell any one about it, either.”
“Madam, I shall be silent. Do you recall the words of the immortal ‘Hamlick’ to-night on that subject?”
“No. What were they?”