"We haven't any programs, Knight. This is to be a cotillion. The _girls_ get a chance to bestow favors. See that table where Sarah is sitting? Come over and I'll explain."
Which she did, a little to Knight's bewilderment.
The rooms began to fill up. On the up-stairs landing violins squeaked in the tuning. Ferren, who was to lead the cotillion with Kitty, chose six couples for the first figure, and the dance began.
Alec and Knight both stood before Blue Bonnet. "I suppose you are going to say 'how happy I'd be with either,' aren't you?" Knight said laughing.
"Since Knight is the guest of honor I think I'd best dance with him," she said.
But Alec, nothing daunted, brought her his first favor.
"You can't resist this vanity box, Blue Bonnet," he said, smiling broadly.
Blue Bonnet accepted the favor, but after a couple of turns through the rooms, she stopped.
"If you please--I think I should rather."
They found a seat in one of the cosy corners. Alec strove to be entertaining. Suddenly, in the midst of the conversation, he broke off abruptly:
"I say, Blue Bonnet! You're not vexed still about that Chula affair, are you?"
"Sorry to miss this two-step. We won't have many more dances."
"My holiday is over. I'm only here at all through a special dispensation of Providence. I ought to be at school this minute, grinding like the mischief. Our exams begin the last Monday in April, and they're no joke."
In her keen disappointment Blue Bonnet forgot her small grievance.
"Why, that's perfectly outrageous! The very idea, only three days!"
"But they've been such bully days! It's been so pleasant to see Judson again. He'll be here. He's going to stay on for a week with Grandfather."
"Two years from next June, if I'm lucky."
"If I pass the examinations and make the Point. If I do, I enter the twelfth of June for two years."
"Why, it's just like having a sentence! Why didn't you stay at the ranch? One can do as one pleases there, at any rate."
A half wistful expression crept into Alec's eyes.
"That's true," he said. "I loved the ranch life, but--you see--Grandfather had chosen the army for me, and when the appointment came, I knew what a disappointment it would be to him if I didn't make a try at it. It's all right though. I like it. There's a fascination about it. Think you don't want to finish this dance?"