"Jetson, a woman hater." "Really a woman hater?" asked Belle. "Oh, no; Jet wouldn't poison all girls, or do anything like that. He isn't violent against girls. In fact, he's merely shy when they're around. But in the service any fellow who isn't always dancing attendance on the fair is doomed to be dubbed a woman hater. In other words, a woman hater is just a fellow who doesn't pester girls all the time." "Are you a woman hater?" Belle asked. "Except when you are at Annapolis," was Dave's ready explanation. That afternoon's lawn party proved a much more enjoyable affair than the young people had expected. Belle met there, for the first time, five or six girls with whom she was to be thrown often later on. When it was over, Dave, having town liberty as well, proudly escorted his sweetheart and her mother back to the hotel. There were more days like it. Dave, by Thursday, realizing that he was coming through his morning trials with flying colors, had arranged permission to take out a party in one of the steamers. As the steamer could be used only for a party Darrin invited Farley and Wolgast to bring their sweethearts along. Mrs. Meade at first demurred about going. "You and Belle have had very little time together," declared that good lady, "and I'm not so old but that I remember my youth. With so large a party there's no need of a chaperon." "But we'd immensely like to have you come," urged Dave; "that is, unless you'd be uncomfortable on the water." "Oh, I'm never uncomfortable on the water," Belle's mother replied. "Then you'll come, won't you?" pleaded Dave. Belle's mother made one of the jolly party. "You'd better come, too, Danny boy," urged Dave at the last moment. "There'll be no unattached girl with the party, so you'll be vastly safer with us than you would away from my watchful eye." "Huh! A fine lot your watchful eye has been on me this week," retorted Midshipman Dalzell. "Jetson has been my grandmother this week." It was a jolly party that steamed down Chesapeake Bay in the launch that afternoon. There was an enlisted man of the engineer department at the engine, while a seaman acted as helmsman. "Straight down the bay, helmsman," Dave directed, as the launch headed out. "Aye, aye, sir," replied the man, touching his cap. After that the young people---Mrs. Meade was included under that heading---gave themselves over to enjoyment. Belle, with a quiet twinkle in her eyes that was born of the love of teasing, tried very hard to draw Mr. Jetson out, thereby causing that young man to flush many times. Dan, from the outset, played devoted squire to Mrs. Meade. That was safe ground for him. "What's that party in the sailboat yonder?" inquired Mrs. Meade, when the steamer had been nearly an hour out. "Are the young men midshipman or officers?" Dave raised to his eyes the glasses with which the steamer was equipped.