“Mother can be sure to see Laura, and they can see the squadron drill together,” ran through Prescott’s mind.

A splendid, swift bit of pontoon bridge building had been shown the visitors on the day before; one battalion had given a lively glimpse of tent pitching in perfect alignment as to company streets, and in record time.

In the forenoon, there was to be a lively battery drill, to be followed by a dizzying demonstration of the speed at which machine guns may be moved, placed in position and fired so fast that there is a hail of projectiles.

For this afternoon, the cavalry drill in squadron, and after that, infantry drill that would include a picture of infantry on the firing line.  After that, the last dress parade in which the present first classmen would ever take part as cadets.

Oh, it was a stirring picture, full of all the dash, the precision and glamour of the soldier’s life!  The pity of it all was that every red-blooded American boy could not be there to see it all.

Just before three o’clock every man of the first class turned out through the north sallyport in the full equipment of a cavalryman.  Here they halted before barracks.

Dick caught sight of four figures standing hardly more than across the road.  A swift glance at the time, and Prescott stepped over the road.

“Good afternoon, mother.  Good afternoon, Mrs. Bentley.  And Laura and Belle—–­oh, how delighted I am to see you both here!”

Genuine joy shone in this manly cadet’s eyes; none could mistake that.

“You did not know that Greg had invited me to the graduation ball, did you?” asked Belle Meade.

“I did not,” Dick answered truthfully.  “Yet I guessed it as soon as I saw you here.  And you have been at the Annapolis graduation, too?”

“Why, of course!” exclaimed Belle, almost in astonishment.  “And Laura went with me.  That’s something else you didn’t know, Dick.”

“I’ve been through the course at West Point,” laughed the cadet, “and by this time I am not astonished at the number of things that I don’t know.”

“Dave and Dan said they had seen you only a few days ago, but they sent their love again,” rattled on Miss Meade.  “But I’m taking up all of the talk, and I know you’re dying to talk to Laura.”

Belle accompanied her words with a little gesture of one hand that displayed the flash of a small solitaire diamond set in a band of gold on the third finger of the left hand.

Dick did not need inquire.  He knew that Dave Darrin had placed that ring where it now flashed.

Just then Greg came through the sally-port.  In an instant he bounded across the road.  He immediately took it upon himself to talk with Belle, and Dick turned to Laura with flushed face and wistful eyes.

In the first instant Miss Bentley flushed; then a sudden pallor succeeded the flush.  Dick, taking her dear face as his barometer, felt a sudden indescribable sinking of his heart.