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."

74 FROM JE&T TO EARNEST-

"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."

"It's a pity I've nothing to tell, in view of my sympathizing
audience," he replied, with a glance at the gigglers on the other
seats.

"But I have been told," said Lottie, "that in emergencies committees
have been appointed to select wives for missionaries, and that