"No doubt of it, Jessie," answered Dave, who well knew what a fondness for his sister the senator's son possessed. "But, as you know, Roger had to go home on a business matter for his father. Senator Morr is very busy in Washington these days, so Roger has to take care of quite a few matters at home." "Isn't it queer that he doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of his father and take up politics?" went on the girl. "Senator Morr didn't want him to do it. And, besides, Roger has no taste that way. He loves civil engineering just as much as I do." "It's a wonder you and he didn't persuade Phil Lawrence to take it up, too, Dave." "Oh, Phil couldn't do that. You know his father's shipping interests are very large, and Mr. Lawrence wants Phil to take hold with him--and Phil likes that sort of thing. He is planning right now to take several trips on his father's ships this summer." "When does that examination of yours come off, Dave?" "About the middle of next month." "And if you really pass, are you going to work away down in Texas?" continued the girl, anxiously. "If I can get the position,--and if Roger is willing to go along." "I don't like to have you go so far away;" and Jessie pouted a little. "Well, it can't be helped. If I want to be a civil engineer I've got to take an opening where I can get it. Besides, Mr. Ramsdell thinks it will be the best kind of training for Roger and me. He knows the men at the head of the Mentor Company, and will get them to give us every opportunity to advance ourselves. That, you know, will mean a great deal." "Oh, but Texas, Dave! Why, that is thousands of miles away!" "Not so very many thousands, Jessie," he answered with a little smile. "The mails run regularly, and I trust you will not forget how to write letters. Besides that, I don't expect to stay in Texas forever." "Yes, but when you come back from Texas, you'll be going off to some other far-away place--South America, or Africa, or the North Pole, or somewhere," and Jessie pouted again. "Oh, say, let up! I'm not going to South Africa, or to the North Pole either. Of course, I may go to Mexico or South America, or to the Far West. But that won't be so very soon. It will be after I have had considerable experience in civil engineering, and when I am older than I am now. And you know what sometimes happens to a fellow when he gets older?" "What?" "He gets married." "Oh, indeed!" Jessie blushed a little. "And then I suppose he goes off and leaves his wife behind and forgets all about her." "Does he? Not so as you can notice it! He takes his wife with him--that is, provided she will go." "Oh, the idea!" and now, as Dave looked her steadily in the eyes, Jessie blushed more than ever. Where this conversation would have ended it is impossible to say, but at that moment Laura interrupted the pair, followed by Ben; and then the talk became general as the four sat down to dinner.