Belle's hearty nonsense put an end to all tension.
Mrs. Prescott met and embraced her son. The others crowded about, offering congratulations.
That night Dick and Greg "dragged" the Gridley girls to the cadet hop at Cullum, and Anstey was a favored one on the hop cards of both girls. Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Bentley looked on from the gallery.
"It's the jolliest hop I've been to," declared Dick with enthusiasm.
"Humph!" muttered Holmes. "Of course it is. You old boner, you've never been but to three hops!
"I understand," teased Belle, "that you're much more of a veteran,
Mr. Holmes, than your chum is."
Cadet Dodge "missed" that hop.
CHAPTER XVII
"A LIAR AND A COWARD"
Long, indeed, did the memory of that hop linger with Cadet Dick
Prescott.