old ramrod. Are you going to present
me?"

"For the next dance. I think, if you are very much on your guard,
Sennett, you will pass for enough of a gentleman for a few minutes."

"I'll call you out for that on Monday," retorted the other yearling,
in mock wrath. "But, for the present, lead me over that I may
prostrate myself at the feet of the femme."

So Dick stood beside Mrs. Bentley and watched Laura dance with
one of the most popular fellows of the class. As Sennett and
Laura returned to Mrs. Bentley, Cadet Dodge suddenly slipped up
as though from nowhere.

"Miss Bentley," he murmured, bowing before Laura, after having
greeted her mother, "I am presumptuous enough to trust that you
remember me."

"Perfectly, Mr. Dodge," replied Laura in her even tones. "How
do you do?"

She did not offer her hand; within the limits of perfectly good
breeding it was her privilege to withhold it without slight or
offence.

"How have you been since the old High School days?"

"Perfectly well, thank you."

"And you, Mrs. Bentley?" asked Dodge, again bowing before her
mother.

"Very well, thank you, Mr. Dodge," replied Mrs. Bentley, who subtly
took her cue from her daughter.

"Now, Miss Bentley, you are not going to leave a broken heart
behind you at West Point?" urged Bert softly. "You are going
to let me write my name on your dance card---even if only once."

"You should have spoken earlier, Mr. Dodge," laughed Laura. "Every
dance, if not already taken, is good as promised."

Yearling Dodge could not conceal his chagrin. At that moment
Belle Meade returned with one of the tallest cadets on the floor.

Bert greeted her effusively. Belle returned the greeting as evenly
and as perfectly as Laura had done---but nothing more.

"Miss Meade, you are going to be tenderhearted enough to flatter
me with one dance?" begged Dodge.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" replied Belle, in a tone of well-bred regret
that carried with it nothing more than courtesy, "but I'm promised
for every dance."

Cadets Prescott and Sennett had turned slightly aside. So had
Belle's late partner. Dodge knew that they were laughing inwardly
at his Waterloo. And Anstey and Greg, who stood by at this moment,
appeared to be wearing inscrutable grins. Dodge made his adieus
hurriedly, walking up the ballroom just ahead of Furlong, who
also had observed. Bert felt sure so many of his comrades had
seen and enjoyed his plight that his fury was at whit