"There's a woman aftah my own heart, suh," murmured Anstey.
"Belle got her voice next," continued Greg. "What she said was:
"'You're wrong, Mrs. Bentley. It isn't even preposterous.'"
"Miss Meade surely delighted me, the first time I ever saw her," murmured Anstey.
"Laura looked down to hide a few tears," continued Greg. "But she brushed them away and looked up smiling. 'I'm sorry, sorry, sorry for Dick's temporary annoyance,' was what Laura said. 'But of course I know such deceit would be impossible in him, so I shall stay here until I know that the Military Academy authorities and the whole world realize how absurd such a suspicion must be.'"
"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: