"Did I say Anna Corwin?"
"If I am not deaf."
"Then I must have meant some one else; to be sure I did—how queer of me. I am going to Lucy's. You cannot say, sir, that she does not live in this direction. I'll not walk with you if you are bound to be particular, though." Her little ears were very red.
"I beg you to forgive me and allow me to walk with you," cried the Captain eagerly.
"I like that much better. No matter if I were going to Anna's and chose a roundabout way, you should not be so impolite as to remonstrate. As a rule, Captain, the men prefer the roundabout way."
"Be it miles I would walk it with thee," cried he, smiling at her merry vanity.
"Oh, would you do that?" she asked, suddenly seeing her way clear. Yet, in spite of all, her composure deserted her and she blurted it out, turning red again. "I am dying to ride to 'Big Fork' tomorrow, but I have no one to accompany me. Would you like to go?" Then to herself, "What a fool he thinks me!"
"Gladly; but, are we sure there are no stray Indians about?" he asked, rather quickly.
"He is afraid," she thought, with strange disappointment. "If you are afraid, we will not go," she said a trifle coldly.
"Afraid? Not for myself, but for you. We will go if you like, and I should rejoice to meet all of the Indians in Virginia if it will please you."