After a while it was necessary for d.i.c.k and Greg to take their friends back to the hotel, for the cadets must be on hand punctually for supper formation.

"Mr. Anstey and I will call for you at 7:30, if we may," said d.i.c.k.

"We shall be ready," Laura promised. "And that we may not keep you waiting, we'll be down on the veranda."

And waiting they were. d.i.c.k and Anstey found Mrs. Bentley and the girls seated near the ladies' entrance.

Anstey, the personification of southern grace and courtesy, made his most impressive greetings to the ladies. His languid eyes took in Laura Bentley at a glance, almost, and he found her to be all that Prescott had described. Belle Meade won Anstey's quick approval, though nothing in his face betrayed the fact.

At first glance, it appeared that both girls were very simply attired in white, but they had spent days in planning the effects of their gowning. Everything about their gowning was most perfectly attuned. Above all, they looked what they were---two sweet, wholesome, unaffected young women.

"We have time now for a short stroll to camp," proposed Prescott.

"If you would like it, you can see how we live in summer. The camp is lighted, now."

So they strolled past the heads of the streets of the camp. At the guard tent, d.i.c.k and Anstey explained the routine of guard duty, in as far as it would be interesting to women. They touched, lightly, upon some of the pranks that are played against the cadet sentries.

Wherever Mrs. Bentley and the girls pa.s.sed, cadet friends lifted their caps to the ladies with Prescott and Anstey, the salutes being punctiliously returned.

Bert Dodge was in a rage. He could not get so much as the courtesy of a bow from these girls whom he had known for years. He was being cut dead and he knew it, and the humiliation of the thing was more than he could well bear. A half hour later, he saw the party coming, and discreetly took himself out of sight.

"I can play my cards at the hop," he muttered.

The over to Cullum Hall, through the dark night, the little party strolled, one of many similar parties.

Once inside Cullum Hall, Prescott and Anstey, looking mightily like young copies of Mars in their splendid dress uniforms, conducted the ladies to seats at the side of the ballroom. d.i.c.k and Anstey next took the ladies' light wraps and went with them to the cloak room, after which they pa.s.sed on to the coat room and checked their own caps.

Laura and Belle gazed about them with well-bred curiosity---Mrs.

Bentley, too---at the other guests of the evening, who were arriving rapidly. The scene was one of animated life. It would have been hard to say whether the handsome gowns of the young ladies, or the cadet dress uniforms, gave more life and spirit to the scene.

As Prescott and Anstey returned across the ballroom floor the orchestra started a preliminary march. Both young cadets fell unconsciously in step close to the door, and came marching, side by side, soldierly---perfect!

"What splendid, manly young fellows!" breathed Laura admiringly to Belle. Her mother, too, heard.

"Be careful, Laura," advised her mother, smilingly. "Don't lose your heart to a sc.r.a.p of gray cloth and a bra.s.s b.u.t.ton."

"Don't fear," smiled Miss Bentley happily. "When I lose my heart it shall be to a man! And how many of them we see here tonight mother!"

Nearly with the precision of a marching platoon the two young men halted before the ladies. Yet there was nothing of stiff formality about either Prescott or Anstey. They stood before their friends, chatting lightly.

"Tell us about some of the other hops that you have attended before,"

begged Belle Meade.

"But we haven't attended any," d.i.c.k replied. "Do you recall my promise in Gridley, Miss Bentley---that I would invite you to my first hop as soon as I was eligible to attend one?"

"Yes," nodded Laura smilingly.

"This is my first hop," d.i.c.k said, smilingly.

"Mine, too," affirmed Anstey.

"Gracious!" laughed Belle merrily. "I hope you both know how to dance."

"We put in weary lessons as plebes, under the dancing master,"

laughed d.i.c.k.

"But you danced well in Gridley," protested Laura.

"Thank you. But the style is a bit different at West Point."

"You make me uneasy," pouted Belle.

"Then that uneasiness will vanish by the time you are half through with the first number."

"There comes Mr. Holmes," discovered Laura. "What a remarkably pretty girl with him."

"Mr. Griffin's sister," said d.i.c.k.

"Isn't that Mr. Dodge?" murmured Laura.

d.i.c.k only half turned, but his sidelong glance covered the doorway.

"Yes; he appears to be stagging it."

Bert presently disappeared. As a cadet always claims the first number or two with the young lady whom he has "dragged" hither, "staggers" have to wait until later in the programme.

Then, presently the music for the opening dance struck up. d.i.c.k had already presented Furlong, a "stagger," to Mrs. Bentley, so that she was not left alone. Furlong had asked the pleasure of a dance with Laura's mother, but Mrs. Bentley, with instinctive tact, realized that the older women did not often dance at cadet hops. So she begged Mr. Furlong to remain with her and tell her about the cadet hops.

As the music struck up, and d.i.c.k bent before her, he thrilled with the grace and unaffected friendliness with which Laura rose and rested one hand on his shoulder. She was a woman, and a magnificent one! Away they whirled, Anstey and Belle following.

"I greatly enjoyed the High School hops of former days," sighed Laura, "but this is finer."

"Same escort," murmured d.i.c.k.

"Same name, but in many ways much changed," laughed Miss Bentley.

"d.i.c.k, I am so glad you came to West Point."

"So am I," he answered simply.

The first two numbers they danced together, then changed partners for the third dance. Between times, Greg had appeared with Miss Griffin and introductions had followed. d.i.c.k's fourth number was danced with Miss Griffin, while Anstey led her out for the fifth.

For that fifth dance d.i.c.k introduced one of his cla.s.smates to Laura, and, during that dance, Prescott stood and chatted with Mrs. Bentley. He saw to it that Laura's mother was very seldom without company through the evening.

The sixth dance d.i.c.k enjoyed with Laura.

"I had a reason for waiting and asking for this dance," he murmured in her ear.

"Yes?" challenged Laura.