mendous change!"

"Do you think it is a change for the better?" asked Dick, smiling.

"Oh, I am sure that it is. Isn't it, Belle? A how wonderfully
glad I am to see you both again."

Dick gazed at Laura with pride. He had no right to feel proud,
except that she was from Gridley, and that she had come all the
way to West Point to see him in his new life.

Laura Bentley, too, had changed somewhat, though not so much as
had her cadet friends. She was but a shade taller, somewhat rounder,
and much more womanly in an undefinable way. She was sweeter
looking in all ways---Dick recognized that much at a glance.
Her eyes rested upon him, and then more briefly upon Greg, in
utter friendliness free from coquetry.

"Can't you get excused and take us over to dress parade?" asked
Belle.

Dick turned to look more closely at Miss Meade. Yes; she, too,
was changed, and wholly for the better as far as charm of appearance
and manner went. Both girls had lost the schoolgirl look. They
were, indeed, women, even if very young ones.

"We can hardly get excused from any duty," Dick smiled. "But
to-day---a most unusual thing---there is no dress parade."

"No parade?" exclaimed Mrs. Bentley in a tone of disappointment.

"No; the officers are entertaining some distinguished outside
visitors at Cullum Hall this afternoon, and the band is over at
Cullum," Greg explained.

"I am so sorry," murmured Mrs. Bentley.

"But you will be here until the close of tomorrow afternoon?"
asked Dick eagerly.

"We had planned to go away about eleven in the forenoon," replied
Mrs. Bentley.

"Then you girls would miss a stroll along Flirtation Walk," suggested
Cadet Prescott. "It is a very strange thing for a young lady
to go away from West Point and confess that she has not had cadet
escort along Flirtation Walk."

"Then we must stay until to-morrow afternoon; may we not, mother?"
pleaded Laura.

"Yes; for I wish you to see the most of West Point and its famous
spots."

"Then to-morrow afternoon you will be able, also, to see dress
parade," Dick suggested.

"Do you forget that tomorrow is Sunday? asked Mrs. Bentley.

"No; we have dress parade on Sunday."

Mrs. Bentley looked puzzled. To her it seemed almost sacrilegious
to parade on Sunday!

"Wait until you have seen our dress parade," Greg begged. "Then
you will understand. It is really as impressive as a religious
ceremony; it is the last honors of each day to our countr