For this afternoon, the cavalry drill in squadron, and after that,
infantry drill that would include a picture of infantry on the
firing line. After that, the last dress parade in which the present
first classmen would ever take part as cadets.
Oh, it was a stirring picture, full of all the dash, the precision
and glamour of the soldier's life! The pity of it all was that
every red-blooded American boy could not be there to see it all.
Just before three o'clock every man of the first class turned out
through the north sallyport in the full equipment of a cavalryman.
Here they halted before barracks.
Dick caught sight of four figures standing hardly more than across
the road. A swift glance at the time, and Prescott stepped over
the road.
"Good afternoon, mother. Good afternoon, Mrs. Bentley. And Laura
and Belle---oh, how delighted I am to see you both here!"
Genuine joy shone in this manly cadet's eyes; none could mistake
that.
"You did not know that Greg had invited me to the graduation ball,
did you?" asked Belle Meade.
"I did not," Dick answered truthfully. "Yet I guessed it as soon
as I saw you here. And you have been at the Annapolis graduation,
too?"
"Why, of course!" exclaimed Belle, almost in astonishment. "And
Laura went with me. That's something else you didn't know, Dick."
"I've been through the course at West Point," laughed the cadet,
"and by this time I am not astonished at the number of things that
I don't know.
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