he parade of cadets was the most wonderful part of it all, of course,
and the girls stood through it, their hearts beating wildly, a delicious
wave of patriotism thrilling to their finger tips. And when it was over
the girls looked at Teddy and Chet and Ferd and Paul with a new respect
that the boys liked but did not understand at all.

Several times during the afternoon they came across Eliza and Amanda and
their escorts--who did not look like bad boys at all. But only once did
the girls try to shove to the front.

It was when Teddy and Paul had taken Billie and Connie over to the ice
cream booth for refreshments, the other boys and girls having wandered
off somewhere by themselves.

Billie was standing up near the counter when Eliza Dilks deliberately
elbowed her way in ahead of her.

Billie began to feel herself getting angry, but before she could say
anything, Teddy spoke over her shoulder.

"Please serve us next," he said to the pleasant-faced matron who had
charge of this part of the refreshments. "Some of these others just came
in and belong at the end of the line."

"Yes, I noticed you were here first," the woman answered, and handed
Billie her ice cream over Eliza's head while Eliza, with a glance at
Billie that should have killed her on the spot, turned sullenly and
walked away.

"Teddy, you're a wonder," murmured Billie under her breath. "I couldn't
have done it like that myself."

After this encounter Billie and her party wandered over to the dancing
pavilion on the outside of which they met Laura and Vi and their escorts
for the afternoon.

"Isn't this the dandiest band in the world?" sighed Billie in supreme
content. "Such music would make--would make even Amanda Peabody dance
well."

"Oh, come, Billie, that's too much!" laughed Teddy, swinging her on to
the floor and giving her what she called a heavenly dance.

And indeed what could have been better fun than this dance on a smooth
floor so large that it did not seem crowded, to the best of music, with a
partner who was a perfect dancer, and--though Billie did not say this to
herself--by a girl who was herself as light and graceful a dancer as was
on the floor?

All things must end, even the most perfect day in a lifetime, as Vi
called it, and finally the girls had been tucked into the carryall and
were once more back at Three Towers Hall, ready, with a new day, to take
up the routine of school life once more.