“She’s going to remain here?” faltered Dick.

“All three of ’em are.  They couldn’t be driven off the reservation by a file of infantry, just now.  But both of the girls insisted on sending you a note.  Which will you have first?”

“Don’t trifle with me, Greg,” begged Prescott.

Anstey rose to go.

“Don’t take yourself off, Anstey old fellow.  Just pardon me while I read my notes.”

Dick read Laura’s note through, thrilling with the absolute faith that it breathed: 

“Dear Dick:  Don’t be uneasy about us, and don’t worry about yourself, either.  I couldn’t express what I think about the charges, without having a man’s license of speech!  But you know all that I would write you.  Just keep up the good old Gridley grit and smile for a few days.  We are going to be here to attend that court-martial, and to give you courage from the gallery—–­but I don’t believe you need a bit.  Faithfully, Laura.”

Belle’s note was much shorter.  It ran: 

“Dear Dick:  What stupid ideas they have of comedy here at West Point!”

And, as Belle knew that she wasn’t and couldn’t be Dick’s sweetheart, she had not hesitated to sign herself, “Lovingly, Belle.”

Dick passed each note in turn to Anstey.

“Your town suhtinly raises real girls!” was the southerner’s quiet comment.

Dick felt like a new being.  He was pacing the floor now, but in no unpleasant agitation.

“Did you impress the girls with the knowledge that I begged them to go to the hop tonight?” asked Prescott, stopping short and eyeing Greg.

“Did you think I’d forget half of my errand, old ramrod?” demanded Holmes indignantly “I delivered your full request, backed by all that I could add.  At first Mrs. Bentley and Laura were shocked at the very idea.  But Belle broke in with:  ’If we didn’t go, it would look as if we were in mourning for some one.  We’re not.  We’re just simply sorry that a poor idea of a farce keeps dear old Dick from being with us tonight.  If we don’t go, Dick Prescott will be more unhappy about it than anyone else in the wide world.’”

“Miss Meade suhtinly doesn’t need spectacles,” murmured Anstey.  “She can see straight!”

“So,” continued Greg, “I’m going to drag Laura tonight, and Anstey is going to do the same for Belle.”

“And we’ll suhtinly see to it that they have, outside of ourselves, of course, the handsomest men in the corps to dance with!” exclaimed Anstey.  “If any fine and handsome fellow even tries to get out of it, I’ll call him out and fight him stiff, suh!”

“I’m glad you have persuaded the girls to go,” nodded Dick cheerily.  “That will give me a happier evening than anything else could do just now.”

“What will you do this evening, Dick?” asked Greg.

“I?  Oh, I’ll be busy—–­and contented at the same time.  Tell that to Laura and Belle, please.”