"Hurrah—hurrah—hurrah!" rang out in perfect unison from over seven hundred young throats.
Then Cadet Lieutenant Sam Blair stepped to the front and proposed, "Three cheers for the winning company, and its cadet lieutenant," which were heartily given.
"What's the surprise, Helen?" asked Robert that evening at seven o'clock as he entered the Blunt house.
"I won't tell you; you must find out for yourself," replied Helen happily; "come into the drawing-room."
"Mother—father—oh, what a happy surprise," cried Robert a moment later. "Captain Blunt, you have had my mother and father come to my graduation!" Indeed Robert could hardly speak for sheer joy.
"Yes, Robert," said Mr. Drake, "Captain Blunt has asked us to visit him for your last days, and here we are; we thought to give you a happy surprise."
It had been many years since Mr. Drake had visited Annapolis. He vividly recalled his own midshipman days, the joyful strife and the friendly rivalry. These had long passed, but he found classmates and many old navy friends with whom to renew old scenes and almost forgotten times.
The first class german took place that night in the Armory, and only first classmen and their chosen partners went on the floor. These midshipmen had donned for the occasion their new white officer uniforms, and the young ladies all wore pure white dresses with ribbons of old gold. Stonewell led, and with him, radiant with happiness, was Nellie Strong. The first classmen, seventy in number, were all present.
On the balcony overhead were thousands of visitors enjoying the pretty, novel figures made by the handsome couples on the floor below.