Laura, as soon as she had extended her hand to Mr. Cameron, had run inside to get her hat.  By the time that Mr. Cameron had reached the front gate Laura came out again, adjusting a wonderfully becoming bit of headgear.

“I am almost ashamed of myself for having spoiled another’s call,” Prescott told her.

“Oh, don’t mind about Mr. Cameron,” laughed Laura lightly.  “He has plenty opportunity, if he enjoys it, to call at other seasons of the year.”

“Oh!  Does he?” muttered Dick.  He began to feel a most unwarrantable dislike for Mr. Cameron.

CHAPTER V

ALONG A “DANGEROUS” ROAD

“Oh, yes,” smiled Laura.  “Mr. Cameron is a frequent visitor.”

This information had the effect of making Prescott almost feel that he would enjoy kicking that other young man.

“You are old friends, then?” he asked lightly, as he tucked the thin carriage robe about Laura, then picked up the lines.

“No; quite recent acquaintances.  We met about four months ago, I think it was.”

Though she spoke with apparent indifference, Prescott covertly caught sight of a slight flush rising to the girl’s face.

“After all,” muttered Dick inwardly, “why not?  Laura isn’t a schoolgirl any longer, and it certainly most be difficult for any young man who has the chance to call to keep away from her!”

So Cadet Prescott tried to persuade himself that it was all very natural for Mr. Cameron to call and for Laura to be glad to see Mr. Cameron.  Dick even tried to feel glad that Laura was receiving attentions—–­but the effort ended in secret failure.

Then Dick, as he drove along, tried to tell himself that he didn’t care, and that he hadn’t any right to care—–­but in this also he fell short of success with himself.

So he fell silent, without intending to.  Laura, on her part, tried to make up for his silence by chatting pleasantly, but after a while she, too, found herself out of words.

Then, for a mile, they drove along almost in complete silence.  Yet Cadet Prescott found plenty of chance to eye her covertly.  What he saw was a beautiful girl, so sweet and wholesome looking that he had hard work, indeed, to keep ardent words from rushing to his lips.

“She grows sweeter and finer all the time,” he muttered to himself.  “Why shouldn’t men be eager to call, often and long?”

At last the mare stumbled slightly, and Prescott jerked the animal so quickly and almost savagely on the lines that Miss Bentley looked at him with something of a start.

“Dick,” spoke Laura at last, turning and looking him frankly, sweetly in the eyes, “have I done anything to offend you?”

“You, Laura?”

“I wondered,” she continued.  “You have been so very silent.”

“I am afraid I was thinking,” muttered Dick.  “And that’s a very rude thing to do when it makes one seem to ignore the lady who is with him,” he added, forcing a smile.  “I beg your pardon, Laura, ten times over.”