“Well, thunder and bomb-shells, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t, Greg.”

“Oh, pardon me, old ramrod.   I don’t mean to pry into your affairs-----”

“I know you don’t.”

“-----but I thought you were deeply interested in Laura Bentley.”

“I think I am, Greg.  In fact, I’m sure I am.”

“Then why-----”

“Greg, I’m not yet sure of my place in life.  I’m not going to ask any girl to tie her future up in my plans until I feel that I have a fair start in life.”

“Army officer’s pay is enough for any sensible girl.”

“I’m not an Army officer yet.”

“Oh, rot!  You’re going to be!  You’re half way through West Point now.  You’re past the harder half, and you stand well enough in your class.  You’re sure to graduate and get into the Army.”

“Greg, within ten days of getting back to West Point I may be injured in some cavalry, or other drill, and become useless for life.  A cadet hurt even in the line of duty gets no pension, no retired pay.  If he is a wreck, he is merely shipped home for his folks to take care of him.  When I graduate, and get my commission in the Army, it will be different.  Then I’ll have a salary guaranteed me for life; if I am injured, and become useless in the Army, I still have retired pay enough to take care of a family.  If I am killed my wife could draw nearly pension enough to support her.  All these things belong to the Army officer and his wife.  But the cadet has nothing coming to him if he fails, for any reason, to get through.”

“Well, cadets don’t marry,” observed Greg.  “They’re forbidden to.  But a cadet can have things understood with his girl.  Then, if he fails to make the Army, or to get something else suitable in life, he can release the girl if she wants to be released.”

“But if a girl considers herself as good as engaged to a cadet she lets other good chances go by, and the cadet may never be able to make good,” objected Dick.

“It’s good of you to be so thoughtful for that fellow Cameron,” jibed Greg.

“I’m not thoughtful for him, but for Laura,” retorted Prescott staunchly.

“Confound it,” growled Greg to himself, “Dick is such a stickler for the girl’s rights that he is likely to break her heart.  Hanged if I don’t try to set Laura straight myself, when I see her!  No; I won’t either, though.  Dick would never forgive me if I butted into his own dearest affairs.”

“I know, Greg,” Prescott pursued presently, “that some of the fellows do become engaged to, girls while still at the Military Academy.  But becoming engaged to marry a girl is a mighty serious thing.”

“Then I’m in for it,” muttered Holmes soberly.  “I’m engaged to the third girl.”

“What?” gasped his chum incredulously.  “You engaged to three girls?”

“Oh, only one at a time,” Greg assured his comrade.  “The first two girls, each in turn, asked to be released, after we’d been engaged for a while.  So, now, I’m engaged to my third girl.”