"Don't I? Perhaps nobody will marry me," she said, demurely.
"If nobody else will, send for me!" said Tom, blushing immediately at his unexpected boldness.
"Am I to regard that as a proposal?" asked Bessie, her eyes sparkling with fun.
"Yes, if you want to," said Tom, manfully.
"I'm sure I'm very much obliged," said the young lady. "I won't forget it, and, if nobody else will have me, I'll send for you."
"She's a trump," he thought, but fortunately didn't make use of a word which would have been highly objectionable to Miss Wiggins.
CHAPTER X.
TOM ARRIVES IN CINCINNATI.
"You haven't told me your name yet," said Bessie, after a while.
"Gilbert Grey," said Tom.