d to be married to her, as well," insisted Dick.

"Ye-es," admitted Cadet Holmes reluctantly. "Let me see; this
is the fourteenth girl you've been engaged to marry, isn't it?"

"No, sir," blurted Greg indignantly. "Miss---I mean my present
betrothed, is only the eighth who has done me the honor."

"Even eight fiancees is going it pretty swiftly for a cadet not
yet through West Point," chuckled Dick.

"Well, confound it, it isn't my fault, is it?" grumbled Greg.
"I didn't break any of the engagements. The other seven girls
broke off with me. On the whole, though, I'm rather obliged to
the seven for handing me the mitten, for I'm satisfied that Miss---I
mean, the present young lady---is the one who is really fitted
to make me happy for life."

"I'm almost sorry I'm not going to-night," mused Prescott aloud.
"Then I'd see the fortunate young lady."

"Oh, there are no secrets from you, old ramrod," protested Greg
good-humoredly. "You know her, anyway, I think---Miss Steele."

"Captain Steele's daughter?"

"Precisely," nodded Greg.

"Daughter of one of the instructors in drawing?"

"Yes."

"Greg, you're at least practical this time," laughed Dick. "That
is, you will be if Miss Steele doesn't follow the example of her
predecessors, and break the engagement too soon."

"Practical?" repeated Cadet Holmes. "What are you talking about,
old ramrod? Has the heat been too much for you to-day? Practical!
Now, what on earth is there that's practical about a love affair?"

"Why, if this engagement lasts long enough, Greg, old fellow,
Captain Steele and his wife will simply have to send you an invitation
to a Saturday evening dinner at their quarters. And then, in
ordinary good nature, they'll have to invite me, also, as your
roommate. Greg, do you stop to realize that we've never yet been
invited to an officer's house to dinner?"

"And we never would be, if we depended on you," grumbled Greg.
"Women are the foundation rock of society, yet you never look
at anyone in a petticoat except Laura Bentley, who comes here
only once a year, and who may be so tired of coming here that
she'll never appear again."

A brief cloud flitted across Dick's face. Seeing it, repentant
Greg rattled on:

"Of course you know me well enough, old ramrod, to know that I'm
not really reproaching you for being so loyal to Laura, good,
sweet girl that she is. But you've miffed a lot, of the girls
on the post by your constancy. W