"But I thought, all
the time, that she was talking about her brother."
"Why should you especially think it was her brother whom she was
mentioning?"
"Because she seemed so mighty fond of the fellow," Dan grunted.
Dave choked a strong impulse to laugh.
"Danny boy," he remarked, "girls, very often, are mighty fond,
also, of the fellow to whom they're engaged."
"Why did she let me call?" demanded Dan gloomily.
"How often have you called?" inquired Midshipman Darrin.
"Once, before to-night."
"Only once? Then, see here, Danny! Don't be a chump. When you
call on a girl once, and ask if you may call some other time,
how on earth is she to guess that you're an intended rival of
the man she has promised to marry?"
"But-----" That was as far as Midshipman Dalzell got. He halted,
wondering what he really could say next.
"Dan, I'm afraid you've got an awful lot to learn about girls,
and also about the social proprieties to be observed in calling
on them. As to Miss Preston receiving a call from you, and permitting
you to call again, that was something that any engaged girl might
do properly enough. Miss Preston came to Annapolis, possibly
to learn something about midshipman life. She met you and allowed
you to call. Very likely she permitted others to call. From
what you've told me I can't see that she treated you unfairly
in any way; I don't believe Miss Preston ever guessed that you
had any other than the merest social reasons for calling.
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