“You can retaliate, you know, by going after some of the girls of the two upper classes,” suggested Laura.

“I don’t believe I’ll try that,” Dick replied.  “It’s all right for the upper class boys to want to dance with some of the freshman girls, especially when the freshman girls are such a charming lot-----”

“Our thanks!” And six girls bowed low before him.

“But it would be regarded, I’m afraid, as rank impudence, if we little freshmen wanted to dance with senior or junior girls.  When a freshman is in doubt the tip is ‘don’t!’”

The orchestra was playing a lively waltz that made most of the girls and many of the boys tap their feet restlessly.

The perfume of flowers was in the air.  Lively chatter and merry laughter rang out.

“This is the brighter side of school life,” murmured Dick, enthusiastically.

“One of the brighter sides,” suggested Laura.  “Your remark, as you made it, sounds ungrateful.  It is a delight to be a High School student.  There are no really dark sides to the life.”

“But some sides are much brighter than others,” Dick insisted.  “I like study, and am glad I have a chance to go further in it than most young people get.  Yet these class dances give us something that algebra, or chemistry, or geometry can’t supply us.”

“This is the brightest spot of the year,” put in Tom Reade, in a low voice.  “It must be the brightness of the girls’ eyes that fill this part of the room with so much radiance.”

“Bravo!” laughed Laura and Belle together.

“Have you been quiet the last fifteen minutes on purpose to think that up?” Dave asked enviously.

“Tom can say lots of nicer things than that,” spoke up Bessie Trenholm, half shyly.

“Oh, can he?” demanded Harry Hazelton.  “Please search your memory then, Bessie.  Let’s have a few specimens of what Tom can say under the influence of luminous eyes.”

Bessie blushed.  When she tried to speak she stammered.

“I—–­I guess I can’t remember anything,” she pleaded.

Freshman laughter rang out merrily at this.  But the waltz had ended, and now the prompter was calling for the grand march.

“Let’s find our places,” urged Dan Dalzell.

“We’re on the side, so we might as well remain right where we are,” proposed Dick.  “That is, unless the floor manager or some aide comes along and chases us to the rear of the procession.”

But no one interfered with the freshmen taking their places in the line just where they stood.

As the grand march ended the orchestra drew breath once or twice, then burst forth in a gallop.  Dick offered Laura his guidance, and away they flew together.  By the time the gallop ended the freshman couples were rather well scattered over the hall.

Dick danced well.  He enjoyed himself immensely.  So did his partners.  Some of the freshman girls finally drifted off with upper class partners.