week doesn't last forever."

"It doesn't," laughed Darrin, "and many of our fellows are very
thankful for that."

"How are you going to come through?" Belle asked, with a quick
little thrill of anxiety.

"Nothing to worry about on that score," Dave assured her. "I'm
sufficiently 'savvy' to pull sat. all right."

"Isn't that fine? And Dan?"

"Oh, he'll finish sat., too, if he doesn't sight another craft
flying pink hair ribbons."

"Any danger of that?" asked Belle anxiously, for Dan was a townsman
of hers.

"Not judging by the company that Dan is keeping to-day," smiled
Darrin.

"Who is his companion to-day, then?"

"Jetson, a woman hater."

"Really a woman hater?" asked Belle.

"Oh, no; Jet wouldn't poison all girls, or do anything like that.
He isn't violent against girls. In fact, he's merely shy when
they're around. But in the service any fellow who isn't always
dancing attendance on the fair is doomed to be dubbed a woman
hater. In other words, a woman hater is just a fellow who doesn't
pester girls all the time."

"Are you a woman hater?" Belle asked.

"Except when you are at Annapolis," was Dave's ready explanation.

That afternoon's lawn party proved a much more enjoyable affair
than the young people had expected. Belle met there, for the
first time, five or six girls with whom she was to be thrown often
later on.

When it was over, Dave, having town liberty as well, proudly escorted
his sweetheart and her mother back to the hotel.

There were more days like it. Dave, by Thursday, realizing that
he was coming through his morning trials with flying colors, had
arranged permission to take out a party in one of the steamers.

As the steamer could be used only for a party Darrin invited Farley
and Wolgast to bring their sweethearts along. Mrs. Meade at first
demurred about going.

"You and Belle have had very little time together," declared that
good lady, "and I'm not so old but that I remember my youth.
With so large a party there's no need of a chaperon."

"But we'd immensely like to have you come," urged Dave; "that
is, unless you'd be uncomfortable on the water."

"Oh, I'm never uncomfortable on the water," Belle's mother replied.

"Then you'll come, won't you?" pleaded Dave. Belle's mother made
one of the jolly party.

"You'd better come, too, Danny boy," urged Dave at the last moment.
"There'll be no unattached girl with the party, so you'll be
vastly safer with us tha