Dave and Dan sent Belle Meade and Laura Bentley invitations to one of the later spring dances.
"I wonder if she'll come or if she's tiring of me," thought Dave Darrin bitterly.
But Belle answered, accepting the invitation for Laura and herself.
When Saturday afternoon came both midshipmen hurried to the hotel in the town and sent up their cards.

Mrs.Meade soon appeared, saying the girls would be down shortly.
"Are they both well ?" asked Dave.

His tone was as one giving a meaningless greeting, but in his heart he waited anxiously to hear what her mother should say of Belle.
"Well, yes.

But Belle has been moping around the house a great deal, Dave, rather unlike her usual self," replied Mrs.Meade slowly.
If Mrs.Meade deplored this, Dave Darrin did not.

It showed him at least that the girl's apparent coldness was not caused by her interest in some other young man.
But when the girls came in and Belle greeted him cordially, to be sure, but with something of restraint, his heart sank again.
"What's the matter, Belle?
Has something gone wrong ?" asked Dave when Dan was engaging the attention of Mrs.Meade and Laura.
"Nothing.