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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 the stronger for it；〃 said Mrs。 Saintsbury。 〃But go；
upon any theory。 Don't you see there isn't a Senior left？〃
He would not look round。 〃They've gone to other spreads；〃 he said。
〃But now I'll tell you： it is pretty； near time； and if you'll take me to
my room； I'll go。〃
〃You're a spoiled boy；〃 said Mrs。 Saintsbury。
〃But I want Mrs。 Pasmer to see the room of a real studenta reading man；
and all thatand we'll come； to humour you。〃
〃Well； come upon any theory；〃 said young Mavering。
His father； and Professor Saintsbury； who had been instructed by his wife
not to lose sight of her； were at hand； and they crossed to that old hall
which keeps its favour with the students in spite of the rivalry of the
newer dormitoriesit would be hard to say why。
Mrs。 Pasmer willingly assented to its being much better； out of pure
complaisance； though the ceilings were low and the windows small； and it
did not seem to her that the Franklin stove and the aesthetic papering
and painting of young Mavering's room brought it up to the level of those
others that she had seen。 But with her habit of saying some friendly
lying thing； no matter what her impressions were； she exclaimed； 〃Oh； how
cosy！〃 and glad of the word； she went about from one to another； asking；
〃Isn't this cosy？〃
Mrs。 Saintsbury said： 〃It's supposed to be the cell of a recluse； but it
is cosyyes。〃
〃It looks as if some hermit had been using it as a store…room；〃 said her
husband； for there were odds and ends of furniture and clothes and boxes
and handbags scattered about the floor。
〃I forgot all about them when I asked you；〃 cried Mavering； laughing out
his delight。 〃They belong to some fellows that are giving spreads in
their rooms； and I let them put them in here。〃
〃Do you commonly let people put things in your room that they want to get
rid off？〃 asked Mrs。 Pasmer。
〃Well； not when I'm expecting company。〃
〃He couldn't refuse even then； if they pressed the matter；〃 said Mrs。
Saintsbury； lecturing upon him to her friend。
〃I'm afraid you're too amiable altogether； Mr。 Mavering。 I'm sure you
let people impose upon you；〃 said the other lady。 〃You have been letting
us impose upon you。〃
〃Ah！ now that proves you're all wrong； Mrs。 Pasmer。〃
〃It proves that you know how to say things very prettily。〃
〃Oh； thank you。 I know when I'm having a good time； and I do my best to
enjoy it。〃 He ended with the nervous laugh which seemed habitual with
him。
〃He； does laugh a good deal；〃 thought Mrs。 Pasmer； surveying him with
smiling steadiness。 〃I suppose it tires Alice。 Some of his teeth are
filled at the sides。 That vein in his foreheadthey say that means
genius。〃 She said to him： 〃I hope you know when others are having a good
time too； Mr。 Mavering？ You ought to have that reward。〃
They both looked at Alice。 〃Oh； I should be so happy to think you hadn't
been bored with it all； Mrs： Pasmer；〃 he returned；with…deep feeling。
Alice was looking at one of the sketches which were pretty plentifully
pinned about the wall； and apparently seeing it and apparently listening
to what Professor Saintsbury was saying； but her mother believed from a
tremor of the ribbons on her hat that she was conscious of nothing but
young Mavering's gaze and the sound of his voice。
〃We've been delighted； simply enchanted；〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer。 And she
thought； 〃Now if Alice were to turn round just as she stands； he could
see all the best points of her face。 I wonder what she really thinks of
him？ What is it you have there； Alice？〃 she asked aloud。
The girl turned her face over her shoulder so exactly in the way her
mother wished that Mrs。 Pasmer could scarcely repress a cry of joy。 〃A
sketch of Mr。 Mavering's。〃
〃Oh； how very interesting！〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃Do you sketch； Mr。
Mavering？ But of course。〃 She pressed forward； and studied the sketch
inattentively。 〃How very； very good！〃 she buzzed deep in her throat；
while； with a glance at her daughter； she thought； 〃How impassive Alice
is！ But she behaves with great dignity。 Yes。 Perhaps that's best。
And are you going to be an artist？〃 she asked of Mavering。
〃Not if it can be prevented；〃 he answered； laughing again。
〃But his laugh is very pleasant；〃 reflected Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃Does Alice
dislike it so much？〃 She repeated aloud； 〃If it can be prevented？〃
〃They think I might spoil a great lawyer in the attempt。〃
〃Oh； I see。 And are you going to be a lawyer？ But to be a great
painter！ And America has so few of them。〃 She knew quite well that she
was talking nonsense； but she was aware； through her own indifference to
the topic that he was not minding what she said； but was trying to bring
himself into talk with Alice again。 The girl persistently listened to
Professor Saintsbury。
〃Is she punishing him for something？〃 her mother asked herself。 〃What
can it be for。 Does she think he's a little too pushing？ Perhaps； he is
a little pushing。〃 She reflected； with an inward sigh； that she would
know whether he was if she only knew more about him。
He did the honours of his room very simply and nicely； and he said it was
pretty rough to think this was the last of it。 After which he faltered；
and something occurred to Mrs Saintsbury。
〃Why； we're keeping you！ It's time for you to dress for the Tree。
John〃she reproached her husband〃how could you let us do it？〃
〃Far be it from me to hurry ladies out of other people's houses
especially ladies who have put themselves in charge of other people。〃
〃No； don't hurry；〃 pleaded Mavering； 〃there's plenty of time。〃
〃How much time？〃 asked Mrs。 Saintsbury。
He looked at his watch。 〃Well； a good quarter of an hour。〃
〃And I was to have taken Mrs。 Pasmer and Alice home for a little rest
before the Tree！〃 cried Mrs Saintsbury。 And now we must go at once； or
we shall get no sort of places；〃
In the civil and satirical parley which followed； no one answered
another； but young Mavering bore as full a part as the elder ladies； and
only his father and Alice were silent： his guests got themselves out of
his room。 They met at the threshold a young fellow； short and dark and
stout； in an old tennis suit。 He fell back at sight of them； and took
off his hat to Mrs。 Saintsbury。
〃Why； Mr。 Boardman！〃
〃Don't be bashful； Boardman？〃 young Mavering called out。 〃Come in and
show them how I shall look in five minutes。〃
Mr。 Boardman took his introductions with a sort of main…force self…
possession； and then said； 〃You'll have to look it in less than five
minutes now； Mavering。 You're come for。〃
〃What？ Are they ready？〃
〃We must fly；〃 panted Mrs。 Saintsbury； without waiting for the answer；
which was lost in the incoherencies of all sorts of au revoirs called
after and called back。
VII。
〃That is one thing；〃 said Mrs。 Saintsbury； looking swiftly round to see
that the elder Mavering was not within hearing； as she hurried ahead with
Mrs。 Pasmer； 〃that I can't stand in Dan Mavering。 Why couldn't he have
warned us that it was getting near the