"Nothing could be better in the way of a plan," assented Dave. "I'll pin Danny boy down to that. It would really seem like a slight on good old Dick if we didn't make Laura an early call." "I'll go to the telephone, now, and tell her that we're coming," cried Belle, rising quickly. "Laura is delighted," she reported, on her return to the room. "But Dave, didn't you at least bring along a uniform, so that we could see what it looks like?" "I didn't," replied Dave, soberly, then added, quizzically: "You've seen the district messenger boys on the street, haven't you?" "Yes, of course; but what--" "Our uniforms look very much like theirs," declared Dave. "I'm afraid I can't undertake to believe you," Belle pouted. "Well, anyway, you girls will soon have a chance to see our uniforms. Just as soon as our hops start, this fall, you and Laura will come down and gladden our hearts by letting us drag you, won't you!" "Drag us?" repeated Belle, much mystified. "Oh, that's middies' slang for escorting a pretty girl to a midshipman hop." "You have a lot of slang, then, I suppose." "Considerable," admitted Dave readily. "What, then, is your slang for a pretty girl?" "Oh, we call her a queen." "And a girl who is--who isn't--pretty?" "A gold brick," answered Dave unblushingly. "A gold brick?" gasped Belle. "Dear me! 'Dragging a gold brick' to a hop doesn't sound romantic, does it?" "It isn't," Darrin admitted. "Yet you have invited me--" "Our class hasn't started in with its course of social compliments yet," laughed Dave. "Please go look in the glass. Or, if you won't believe the glass, then just wait and see how proud Dan and I are if we can lead you and Laura out on the dancing floor." "But what horrid slang!" protested Belle. "The idea of calling a homely girl a gold brick! And I thought you young men received more or less training in being gracious to the weaker sex." "We do," Dave answered, "as soon as we can find any use for the accomplishment. Fourth classmen, you know, are considered too young to associate with girls. It's only now, when we've made a start in the third class, that we're to be allowed to attend the hops at all." "But why must you have to have such horrid names for girls who have not been greatly favored in the way of looks? It doesn't sound exactly gallant." "Oh, well, you know," laughed Dave, "we poor, despised, no-account middies must have some sort of sincere language to talk after we get our masks off for the day. I suppose we like the privilege, for a few minutes in each day, of being fresh, like other young folks." "What is your name for 'fresh' down at Annapolis!" Belle wanted to know. "Touge." "And for being a bit worse than touge?" "Ratey." "Which did they call you?" demanded Belle. Dave started, then sat up straight, staring at Miss Meade. "I see that your tongue hasn't lost its old incisiveness," he laughed.