not for my own
great good fortune, and my natural selfishness, I would feel most
regretful over being the means of distracting Miss Bentley's
attention."

Laura, as soon as she had extended her hand to Mr. Cameron, had
run inside to get her hat. By the time that Mr. Cameron had reached
the front gate Laura came out again, adjusting a wonderfully becoming
bit of headgear.

"I am almost ashamed of myself for having spoiled another's call,"
Prescott told her.

"Oh, don't mind about Mr. Cameron," laughed Laura lightly. "He
has plenty opportunity, if he enjoys it, to call at other seasons
of the year."

"Oh! Does he?" muttered Dick. He began to feel a most unwarrantable
dislike for Mr. Cameron.

CHAPTER V

ALONG A "DANGEROUS" ROAD

"Oh, yes," smiled Laura. "Mr. Cameron is a frequent visitor."

This information had the effect of making Prescott almost feel
that he would enjoy kicking that other young man.

"You are old friends, then?" he asked lightly, as he tucked the
thin carriage robe about Laura, then picked up the lines.

"No; quite recent acquaintances. We met about four months ago,
I think it was."

Though she spoke with apparent indifference, Prescott covertly
caught sight of a slight flush rising to the girl's face.

"After all," muttered Dick inwardly, "why not? Laura isn't a
schoolgirl any longer, and it certainly most be difficult for
any young man who has the chance to call to keep away from her!"

So Cadet Prescott tried to persuade himself that it was all very
natural for Mr. Cameron to call and for Laura to be glad to see
Mr. Cameron. Dick even tried to feel glad that Laura was receiving
attentions---but the effort ended in secret failure.

Then Dick, as he drove along, tried to tell himself that he didn't
care, and that he hadn't any right to care---but in this also he
fell short of success with himself.

So he fell silent, without intending to. Laura, on her part,
tried to make up for his silence by chatting pleasantly, but after
a while she, too, found herself out of words.

Then, for a mile, they drove along almost in complete silence.
Yet Cadet Prescott found plenty of chance to eye her covertly.
What he saw was a beautiful girl, so sweet and wholesome looking
that he had hard work, indeed, to keep ardent words from rushing
to his lips.

"She grows sweeter and finer all the time," he muttered to himself.
"Why shouldn't men be eager to call, often and long?"

At