"Yes, the hop. I forgot. You will give me the first dance?"
To her surprise he asked no others. "Cadets have to learn to dance, but
Baltimore may have left you critical."
Still on her investigation track, she returned, "Oh, Baltimore! It seems odd to me that I should have seen so much of the world of men and women and you who are older so little in this military monastery."
He laughed outright. "We have the officers' families, and if we are allowed to visit, the Kembles and Gouverneurs and Pauldings across the river—no better social life anywhere. And as for young women—sisters, cousins—embarras de choix, Miss Grey. They come in flocks like the blackbirds. I assure you that this branch of natural history is pretty well illustrated at the Point. We are apt to be rather over-supplied in June."
"Indeed!—all sorts, I suppose."
"Yes, a variety, and just now three charming young women from the South."
"Rather a strong adjective—charming. I might hesitate to apply it to a whole flock. I think men are more apt to use it than women."
"I stand by my adjective. Take care of your laurels, Miss Grey. I am lucky enough to have two dances with Miss Ramsay. Her brother is a cadet."
"Introduce him to me. What myriads of violets!"
"Do you remember how, when we were small, we used to fight violets?"