a lovely string of pearls she brought on
purpose, I looked quite nice.

The "hop" was in a great big room which the cadets use for something or
other, I forget what; and it was decorated with quantities of American
flags. There were lots of girls--the youngest things! hardly any of
them could have been out--but there were even more men; counting
officers and cadets, at least two for each girl.

The card which my particular cadet had talked about making for me, was
a programme, with all the dances and the men's names, and illuminations
which he had put on himself. It was beautiful, and I told him that I
would always keep it. I danced every dance, with two partners for each,
and there was a cotillion afterwards with favours to remind the girls
who got them, of West Point; little flags, and buttons, and bits of
gold lace; but I was very lucky, for some of the friends I had made in
camp had smuggled me special things, and I shall have quite a
collection of sergeant's stripes and corporal's chevrons, belt buckles
and beautiful bright bell-buttons with initials scratched on them.

I don't believe Vic had half so much fun at her first ball as I had at
mine, although hers is so many seasons ago now that I can't remember
what she said about it. I was only a little girl then, and she wasn't
in the habit of telling me things, as she is now.

Although I didn't get to bed till after two, I was up early next
morning, because I had promised my best cadets that I would be at
morning parade, or whatever they call it, to say good-bye. Sally went
with me, and it was quite an affecting parting. I shall never forget
those dear boys if I live to be a hundred, though I can't remember any
of their names, as after all I lost the card I meant to keep always.

VI

ABOUT THE PARK AND LOVE STORIES

All the preparations that Mrs. Ess Kay had to make for Newport kept us
two more days in New York; and it was terribly hot, but I was not sorry
to stay, because we did so many amusing things.

Mr. Doremus was detained too--by his tailor, he said--so we saw a good
deal of him, as Mrs. Van der Windt had left for her Newport cottage. We
did go to a roof garden entertainment, after all, and it was most
fascinating, but quite without the feeling that you might fall off,
which I had expected to have. I saw the moon coming up, and gilding
thousands of roofs, and I couldn't help wondering which was the roof of
that club where poor, handsome Jim B