At that moment Belle Meade returned with one of the tallest cadets on the floor.
Bert greeted her effusively.

Belle returned the greeting as evenly and as perfectly as Laura had done---but nothing more.
"Miss Meade, you are going to be tenderhearted enough to flatter me with one dance ?" begged Dodge.
"Oh, I am so sorry!" replied Belle, in a tone of well-bred regret that carried with it nothing more than courtesy, "but I'm promised for every dance." Cadets Prescott and Sennett had turned slightly aside.

So had Belle's late partner.

Dodge knew that they were laughing inwardly at his Waterloo.

And Anstey and Greg, who stood by at this moment, appeared to be wearing inscrutable grins.