"Yet it is all the
life that I look forward to. It's all the life that I care about."

"Despite the loneliness---or rather, because of it---it will seem
all the finer and more beautiful to come home to wife and children,"
said Miss Atterly after a pause. "Nearly all Naval officers marry,
don't they?"

"I---I believe they do," Dalzell stammered. "I---I never asked
any Naval officers for statistics."

"Now, you are becoming droll," cried Miss Atterly, her laughter
ringing out.

"I didn't mean to be," Dan protested. "I beg your pardon."

Whereat Miss Atterly laughed more than ever.

"I like you even better when you're droll," Miss Atterly informed
him.

Something in the way that she said it pleased Midshipman Dalzell
so immensely that he began to notice, more than before, what a
very fine girl Miss Atterly was. Then, to win her applause, Dan
made the mistake of trying to be funny, whereat the girl was extremely
kind.

"Dave," whispered Belle soon after the music had stopped, "I can't
get away from the belief that Dan's companion is leading him on.
See! Dan now looks at her almost adoringly."

Laura Bentley, too, had noticed Dan's preoccupation, but she merely
smiled within herself. She did not believe that Dan could really
be serious where girls were concerned. Now, as Laura's midshipman
partner led her to a seat, and soon left her, Dan, tearing himself
away from Miss Atterly, came to remind Laura that his name was
written on her card for the next dance.

"Very fine girl I've been talking with, Laura," Dan confided in
the straightforward way that he had always used with Miss Bentley,
who was such a very old school friend.

"She certainly is very pretty," Laura nodded.

"And---er---distinguished looking, don't you think?" Dan ventured.

"Yes, indeed."

"But I was speaking more of her character---at least, her disposition.
Miss Atterly is highly sympathetic. I wish you'd meet her, Laura."

"I shall be delighted to do so, Dan."

"After this dance, then? And I want Belle to meet her, too.
Miss Atterly has noticed you both, and was much interested when
she learned that you were old school-day friends of mine."

So, after the music had ceased, Dan escorted Laura over to where
Dave and Belle were chatting.

"Belle," asked Dan in his most direct way, "will you come and
be introduced to Miss Atterly?"

"The young lady you've been dancing with so much?" Miss Meade
inquired. "The tall, stately bl