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answered。
〃We're a thoroughly indoors people；〃 said the Professor。 〃And it seems
as if we hadn't really begun to get well as a race till we had come in
out of the weather。〃
〃How can you say that on a day like this？〃 cried Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃I didn't
suppose any one could be so unromantic。〃
〃Don't flatter him；〃 cried his wife。
〃Does he consider that a compliment？〃
〃Not personally；〃 he answered： 〃But it's the first duty of a Professor of
Comparative Literature to be unromantic。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 faltered Mrs。 Pasmer。
〃He will be happy to explain； at the greatest possible length；〃 said Mrs。
Saintsbury。 〃But you shan't spoil our pleasure now； John。〃
They all laughed； and the Professor looked proud of the wit at his
expense； the American husband is so； and the public attitude of the
American husband and wife toward each other is apt to be amiably
satirical； their relation seems never to have lost its novelty； or to
lack droll and surprising contrasts for them。
Besides these passages with her husband； Mrs。 Saintsbury kept up a full
flow of talk with the elder Mavering； which Mrs。 Pasmer did her best to
overhear； for it related largely to his son； whom； it seemed； from the
father's expressions； the Saintsburys had been especially kind to。
No； I assure you； 〃Mrs。 Pasmer heard her protest； 〃Mr。 Saintsbury has；
been very much interested in him。 I hope he has not put any troublesome
ideas into his head。 Of course he's very much interested in literature；
from his point of view； and he's glad to find any of the young men
interested in it； and that's apt to make him overdo matters a little。〃
〃Dan wished me to talk with him； and I shall certainly be glad to do so；〃
said the father； but in a tone which conveyed to Mrs。 Pasmer the
impression that though he was always open to conviction； his mind was
made up on this point； whatever it was。
VI。
The party went to half a dozen spreads； some of which were on a scale of
public grandeur approaching that of the Gymnasium； and others of a
subdued elegance befitting the more private hospitalities in the
students' rooms。 Mrs。 Pasmer was very much interested in these rooms；
whose luxurious appointments testified to the advance of riches and of
the taste to apply them since she used to visit students' rooms in far…
off Class Days。 The deep window nooks and easy…chairs upholstered in the
leather that seems sacred alike to the seats and the shelves of
libraries； the aesthetic bookcases； low and topped with bric…a…brac； the
etchings and prints on the walls； which the elder Mavering went up to
look at with a mystifying air of understanding such things； the foils
crossed over the chimney； and the mantel with its pipes； and its
photographs of theatrical celebrities tilted about over itspoke of
conditions mostly foreign to Mrs。 Pasmer's memories of Harvard。 The
photographed celebrities seemed to be chosen chiefly for their beauty；
and for as much of their beauty as possible； Mrs。 Pasmer perceived； with
an obscure misgiving of the sort which an older generation always likes
to feel concerning the younger； but with a tolerance； too； which was
personal to herself； it was to be considered that the massive thought and
honest amiability of Salvini's face； and the deep and spiritualized power
of Booth's； varied the effect of these companies of posturing nymphs。
At many places she either met old friends with whom she clamoured over
the wonder of their encounter there； or was made acquainted with new
people by the Saintsburys。 She kept a mother's eye on her daughter； to
whom young Mavering presented everybody within hail or reach； and whom
she could see； whenever she looked at her； a radiant centre of
admiration。 She could hear her talk sometimes； and she said to herself
that really Alice was coming out； she had never heard her say so many
good things before； she did not know it was in her。 She vas very glad
then that she had let her wear that dress； it was certainly
distinguished； and the girl carried it off； to her mother's amusement；
with the air of a superb lady of the period from which it dated。 She
thought what a simple child Alice really was； all the time those other
children； the Seniors； were stealing their glances of bold or timid
worship at her； and doubtless thinking her a brilliant woman of the
world。 But there could be no mistake that she was a success。
Part of her triumph was of course due to Mrs。 Saintsbury； whose
chaperonage； Mrs。 Pasmer could see； was everywhere of effect。 But it was
also largely due to the vigilant politeness of young Mavering； who seemed
bent on making her have good time； and who let no chance slip him。 Mrs。
Pasmer felt his kindness truly； and she did not feel it the less because
she knew that there was but one thing that could； at his frankly selfish
age； make a young fellow wish to make a girl have a good time； except for
that reason he must be bending the whole soul of egotistic youth to
making some other girl have a good time。 But all the same； it gave her
pause when some one to whom she was introduced spoke to her of her
friends the Maverings； as if they were friends of the oldest standing
instead of acquaintances of very recent accident。 She did not think of
disclaiming the intimacy； but 〃Really I shall die of these Maverings；〃
she said to herself； 〃unless I find out something about them pretty
soon。〃
〃I'm not going to take you to the Omicron spread； Mrs。 Pasmer；〃 said
young Mavering； coming up to her with such an effect of sympathetic
devotion that she had to ask herself； 〃Are they my friends； the
Maverings？〃 〃The Saintsburys have been there already； and it is a little
too common。〃 The tone of superiority gave Mrs。 Pasmer courage。 〃They're
good fellows； and all that； but I want you to see the best。 I suppose it
will get back to giving the spreads all in the fellows' rooms again。
It's a good deal pleasanter； don't you think？〃
〃Oh yes； indeed；〃 assented Mrs。 Pasmer； though she had really been
thinking the private spreads were not nearly so amusing as the large
spread she had seen at the Gymnasium。 She had also wondered where all
Mr。 Mavering's relations and friends were； and the people who had social
claims on him； that he could be giving up his Class Day in this reckless
fashion to strangers。 Alice would account for a good deal； but she would
not account for everything。 Mrs。 Pasmer would have been willing to take
him from others； but if he were so anomalous as to have no one to be
taken from； of course it lessened his value as a trophy。 These things
went in and out of her mind； with a final resolution to get a full
explanation from Mrs。 Saintsbury； while she stood and smiled her winning
assent up into the young man's handsome face。
Mrs。 Saintsbury； caught sight of them； and as if suddenly reminded of a
forgotten duty； rushed vividly upon him。
〃Mr。 Mavering； I shall not let you stay with us another minute。 You must
go to your room now and get ready。 You ought to have a little rest。〃
He broke out in his laugh。 〃Do you think I want to go and lie down
awhile； like a lady before a party？〃
〃I'm sure you'd be