Then, presently the music for the opening dance struck up.  Dick had already presented Furlong, a “stagger,” to Mrs. Bentley, so that she was not left alone.  Furlong had asked the pleasure of a dance with Laura’s mother, but Mrs. Bentley, with instinctive tact, realized that the older women did not often dance at cadet hops.  So she begged Mr. Furlong to remain with her and tell her about the cadet hops.

As the music struck up, and Dick bent before her, he thrilled with the grace and unaffected friendliness with which Laura rose and rested one hand on his shoulder.  She was a woman, and a magnificent one!  Away they whirled, Anstey and Belle following.

“I greatly enjoyed the High School hops of former days,” sighed Laura, “but this is finer.”

“Same escort,” murmured Dick.

“Same name, but in many ways much changed,” laughed Miss Bentley.  “Dick, I am so glad you came to West Point.”

“So am I,” he answered simply.

The first two numbers they danced together, then changed partners for the third dance.  Between times, Greg had appeared with Miss Griffin and introductions had followed.  Dick’s fourth number was danced with Miss Griffin, while Anstey led her out for the fifth.

For that fifth dance Dick introduced one of his classmates to Laura, and, during that dance, Prescott stood and chatted with Mrs. Bentley.  He saw to it that Laura’s mother was very seldom without company through the evening.

The sixth dance Dick enjoyed with Laura.

“I had a reason for waiting and asking for this dance,” he murmured in her ear.

“Yes?” challenged Laura.

“I discovered that it is the longest number on the programme.  I would dearly love the next number, also, but I must not make the evening too dull and prosy for you.  Will you trust me to select your partner for the next dance?”

“I am wholly in your hands,” smiled Miss Bentley.

After Dick had conducted Laura to a seat beside her mother he stepped away to find Sennett, of the yearling class.

“Sennett,” murmured Dick banteringly, “I have seen you casting eyes at Miss Bentley.”

“I fear I must plead my guilt, 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.”