april hopes-第4部分

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constantly　said；　people　always　know　perfectly　well　what　you　were　about；
whichever　way　you　looked　or　whatever　you　said；　or　no　matter　how　well　you
acted　the　part　of　thinking　what　you　did　not　think。　　Now；　although　she
seemed　not　to　look；　she　saw　all　that　has　been　described　at　a　glance；　and
at　another　she　saw　young　Mavering　slide　easily　up　to　his　father　and
relieve　him　of　the　plate　and　glass；　with　a　laugh　as　pleasant　and　a　show
of　teeth　as　dazzling　as　he　bestowed　upon　any　of　the　ladies　he　had　passed。
She　owned　to　her　recondite　heart　that　she　liked　this　in　young　Mavering；
though　at　the　same　time　she　asked　herself　what　motive　he　really　had　in
being　so　polite　to　his　father　before　people。　　But　she　had　no　time　to
decide；　she　had　only　time　to　pack　the　question　hurriedly　away　for　future
consideration；　when　young　Mavering　arrived　at　her　elbow；　and　she　turned
with　a　little　〃Oh！〃　of　surprise　so　perfectly　acted　that　it　gave　her　the
greatest　pleasure。




IV。

〃I　don't　think　my　father　would　have　got　here　alive　with　these　things；〃
said　young　Mavering。　　〃Did　you　see　how　I　came　to　his　rescue？〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　instantly　threw　away　all　pretext　of　not　having　seen。　　〃Oh
yes！　my　heart　was　in　my　mouth　when　you　bore　down　upon　him；　Mr。　Mavering。
It　was　a　beautiful　instance　of　filial　devotion。〃

〃Well；　do　sit　down　now；　Mrs。　Pasmer；　and　take　it　comfortably；〃　said　the
young　fellow；　and　he　got　her　one　of　the　many　empty　chairs；　and　would　not
give　her　the　things；　which　he　put　in　another；　till　she　sat　down　and　let
him　spread　a　napkin　over　her　lap。

〃Really；〃　she　said；　〃I　feel　as　if　I　were　stopping　all　the　wheels　of　Class
Day。　　Am　I　keeping　them　from　closing　the　Gymnasium；　Mr。　Mavering？〃

〃Not　quite；〃　said　the　young　man；　with　one　of　his　laughs。　　〃I　don't
believe　they　will　turn　us　out；　and　I'll　see　that　they　don't　lock　us　in。
Don't　hurry；　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　I'm　only　sorry　you　hadn't　something　sooner。〃

〃Oh；　your　father　proposed　getting　me　something　a　good　while　ago。〃

〃Did　he？　　Then　I　wonder　you　haven't　had　it。　　He's　usually　on　time。〃

〃You're　both　very　energetic；　I　think；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer。

He's　the　father　of　his　son；〃　said　the　young　fellow；　assuming　the　merit
with　a　bow　of　burlesque　modesty。

It　went　to　Mrs。　Pasmer's　heart。　　〃Let's　hope　he'll　never　forget　that；〃
she　said；　in　an　enjoyment　of　the　excitement　and　the　salad　that　was
beginning　to　leave　her　question　of　these　Maverings　a　light；　diaphanous
cloud　on　the　verge　of　the　horizon。

The　elder　Mavering　had　been　trying；　without　success；　to　think　of
something　to　say　to　Miss　Pasmer；　he　had　twice　cleared　his　throat　for　that
purpose。　　But　this　comedy　between　his　son　and　the　young　lady's　mother
seemed　so　much　lighter　and　brighter　than　anything　he　could　have　said；
that　he　said　nothing；　and　looked　on　with　his　mouth　set　in　its　queer
smile；　while　the　girl　listened　with　the　gravity　of　a　daughter　who　sees
that　her　mother　is　losing　her　head。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　buzzed　on　in　her
badinage　with　the　young　man；　and　allowed　him　to　go　for　a　cup　of　coffee
before　she　rose　from　her　chair；　and　shook　out　her　skirts　with　an　air　of
pleasant　expectation　of　whatever　should　come　next。

He　came　back　without　it。　　〃The　coffee　urn　has　dried　up　here；　Mrs。　Pasmer。
But　you　can　get　some　at　the　other　spreads；　they'd　be　inconsolable　if　you
didn't　take　something　everywhere。〃

They　all　started　toward　the　door；　but　the　elder　Mavering　said；　holding
back　a　little；　〃Dan；　I　think　I'll　go　and　see〃

〃Oh　no；　you　mustn't；　father；〃　cried　the　young　man；　laying　his　hand　with
caressing　entreaty　on　his　father's　coat　sleeve。　　〃I　don't　want　you　to　go
anywhere　till　you've　seen　Professor　Saintsbury。　　We　shall　be　sure　to　meet
him　at　some　of　the　spreads。　　I　want　you　to　have　that　talk　with　him〃
He　corrected　himself　for　the　instant's　deflection　from　the　interests　of
his　guest；　and　added；　〃I　want　you　to　help　me　hunt　him　up　for　Mrs。　Pasmer。
Now；　Mrs。　Pasmer；　you're　not　to　think　it's　the　least　trouble；　or　anything
but　a　boon；　much　less　say　it；〃　he　cried；　turning　to　the　deprecation　in
Mrs。　Pasmer's　face。　　He　turned　away　from　it　to　acknowledge　the　smiles　and
bows　of　people　going　out　of　the　place；　and　he　returned　their　salutations
with　charming　heartiness。

In　the　vestibule　they　met　the　friends　they　were　going　in　search　of。




V。

〃With　Mr。　Mavering；　of　course！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Saintsbury：　〃I　might　have
known　it。〃　　Mrs。　Pasmer　would　have　given　anything　she　could　think　of　to
be　able　to　ask　why　her　friend　might　have　known　it；　but　for　the　present
they　could　only　fall　upon　each　other　with　flashes　of　self…accusal　and
explanation；　and　rejoicing　for　their　deferred　and　now　accomplished
meeting。　　The　Professor　stood　by　with　the　satirical　smile　with　which　men
witness　the　effusion　of　women。　　Young　Mavering；　after　sharing　the　ladies'
excitement　fully　with　them；　rewarded　himself　by　an　exclusive　moment　with
Miss　Pasmer。

〃You　must　get　Mrs。　Pasmer　to　let　me　show　you　all　of　Class　Day　that　a
Senior　can。　　I　didn't　know　what　a　perfect　serpent's　tooth　it　was　to　be
one　before。　　Mrs。　Saintsbury；〃　he　broke　off；　〃have　you　got　tickets　for
the　Tree？　　Ah；　she　doesn't　hear　me！〃

Mrs。　Saintsbury　was　just　then　saying　to　the　elder　Mavering；　〃I'm　so　glad
you　decided　to　come　today。　　It　would　have　been　a　shame　if　none　of　you
were　here。〃　　She　made　a　feint　of　dropping　her　voice；　with　a　glance　at　Dan
Mavering。　　〃He's　such　a　nice　boy；〃　which　made　him　laugh；　and　cry　out

〃Oh；　now？　　Don't　poison　my　father's　mind；　Mrs。　Saintsbury。〃

〃Oh；　some　one　would　be　sure　to　tell　him；〃　retorted　the　Professor's　wife；
〃and　he'd　better　hear　it　from　a　friend。〃

The　young　fellow　laughed　again；　and　then　he　shook　hands　with　some　ladies
going　out；　and　asked　were　they　going　so　soon；　from　an　abstract
hospitality；　apparently；　for　he　was　not　one　of　the　hosts；　and　so　turned
once　more　to　Miss　Pasmer。　　〃We　must　get　away　from　here；　or　the　afternoon
will　get　away　from　us；　and　leave　us　nothing　to　show　for　it。　　Suppose　we
make　a　start；　Miss　Pasmer？〃

He　led　the　way　with　her　out　of　the　vestibule；　banked　round　with　pots　of
palm　and　fern；　and　down　the　steps　into　the　glare　of　the　Cambridge
sunshine；　blown　full；　as　is　the　case　on　Class　Day；　of　fine　Cambridge
dust；　which　had　drawn　a　delicate　grey　veil　over　the　grass　of　the
Gymnasium　lawn；　and　mounted　in　light　clouds　from　the　wheels　powdering　it
finer　and　finer　in　the　street。　　Along　the　sidewalks　dusty　hacks　and
carriages　were　ranged；　and　others　were　driving　up　to　let　people　dismount
at　the　entrances　to　the　college　yard。　　Within　the　temporary　picket…
fences；　secluding　a　part　of　the　grounds　for　the　students　and　their
friends；　were　seen　stretching　from　dormitory　to　dormitory　long　lines　of
Chinese　lanterns；　to　be　lit　after　nightfall；　swung　between　the　elms。
Groups　of　ladies　came　and　went；　nearly　always　under　the　escort　of　some
student；　the　caterers'　carts；　disburdened　of　their　ice…creams　and　salads；
were　withdrawn　under　the　shade　in　the　street；　and　their　drivers　lounged
or　drowsed　upon　the　seats；　now　and　then　a　black　waiter；　brilliant　as　a
bobolink　in　his　white　jacket　and　apron；　appeared　on　some　errand；　the
large；　mild　Cambridge　policemen　kept　the　entrances　to　the　yard　with　a
benevolent　vigilance　which　was　not　harsh　with　the　little　Irish　children
coming　up　from　the　Marsh　in　their　best　to　enjoy　the　sight　of　other
people's　pleasure。

〃Isn't　it　a　perfect　Class　Day？〃　cried　young　Mavering；　as　he　crossed
Kirkland　Street　with　Miss　Pasmer；　and　glanced　down　its　vaulted
perspective　of　elms；　through　which　the　sunlight　broke；　and　lay　in　the
road　in　pools　and　washes　as　far　as　the　eye　reached。　　〃Did　you　ever　see
anything　bluer　than　the　sky　to…day？　　I　feel　as　if　we'd　ordered　the
weather；　with　the　rest　of　the　things；　and　I　had　some　credit　for　it　as
host。　　Do　make　it　a　little　compliment；　Miss　Pasmer；　I　assure　you　I'll　be
very　modest　about　it。〃

〃Ah；　I　think　it's　fully　up　to　the　occasion；〃　said　the　girl；　catching　the
spirit　of　his　amiable　satisfaction。　　〃Is　it　the　usual　Class　Day　weather？〃

〃You　spoil　everything　by　asking　that；〃　cried　the　young　man；　〃it　obliges
me　to　make　a　confessionit's　always　good　weather　on　Class　Day。　　There
haven't　been　more　than　a　dozen　bad　Class　Days　in　the　century。　　But　you'll
admit　that　there　can't　have　been　a　better　Class　Day　than　this？〃

〃Oh　yes；　it's　certainly　the　pleasantest　Class　Day　I've　seen；〃　said　the
girl；　and　now　when　Mavering　laughed　she　laughed　too。

〃Thank　you　so　much　for　saying　that！　　I　hope　it　will　pass　off　in　unclouded
brilliancy；　it　will；　if　I　can　make　it。　　Why；　hallo！　　They're　on　the　other
side　of　the　street　yet；　and　looking　about　as　if　they　were　lost。〃

He　pulled　his　handkerchief　from　his　pocket；　and　waved　it　at　the　others　of
their　party。

They　caught　sight　of　it；　and　came　hurrying　over　through　the　dust。

Mrs。　Saintsbury　said；　apparently　as　the　sum　of　her　consultations　with
Mrs。　Pasmer：　〃The　Tree　is　to　be　at　half…past　five；　and　after　we've　seen　a
few　spreads；　I'm　going　to　take　the　ladies　hone　for　a　little　rest。〃

〃Oh　no；　don't　do　that；〃　pleaded　the　young　man。　　After　making　this　protest
he　seemed　not　to　have　anything　to　say　immediately　in　support　of　it。　　He
merely　added：　〃This　is　Miss　Pasmer's　first　Class　Day；　and　I　want　her　to
see　it