"Not so that the band-leader could notice it," replied Dave. "Yet I think we'd all be making more noise if this were a freshman dance."
"But the freshmen don't have a dance until just before commencement time," put in Belle Meade, who was there with Dave.
"Anyway, the seniors are not so very important," laughed Laura. "the average age of the freshman class is about fourteen or fifteen. The seniors are only three years older Pooh! Who's afraid?"
"I am," broke in Ben Badger, coming up behind them. "Desperately afraid."
"You? Of what?" asked Laura, turning around upon him.
"Afraid that I'm too late to write my autograph on your dance card," admitted Ben, with a rueful smile.
"But you're a senior," murmured Laura.
"Is that a crime?" demanded Ben, in a tone of wonder.
"Why, we were planning," put in Belle, "that the freshmen boys and freshmen girls should dance together this evening."
"I see a ray of hope," protested Ben. "I'm going to college, so I shall be a freshman again next year. Isn't that enough to entitle me to one—-square—-dance, anyway?"