april hopes-第1章

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April　Hopes


by　William　Dean　Howells






From　his　place　on　the　floor　of　the　Hemenway　Gymnasium　Mr。　Elbridge　G。
Mavering　looked　on　at　the　Class　Day　gaiety　with　the　advantage　which　his
stature；　gave　him　over　most　people　there。　　Hundreds　of　these　were　pretty
girls；　in　a　great　variety　of　charming　costumes；　such　as　the　eclecticism
of　modern　fashion　permits；　and　all　sorts　of　ingenious　compromises　between
walking　dress　and　ball　dress。　　It　struck　him　that　the　young　men　on　whose
arms　they　hung；　in　promenading　around　the　long　oval　within　the　crowd　of
stationary　spectators；　were　very　much　younger　than　students　used　to　be；
whether　they　wore　the　dress…coats　of　the　Seniors　or　the　cut…away　of　the
Juniors　and　Sophomores；　and　the　young　girls　themselves　did　not　look　so
old　as　he　remembered　them　in　his　day。　　There　vas　a　band　playing
somewhere；　and　the　galleries　were　well　filled　with　spectators　seated　at
their　ease；　and　intent　on　the　party…coloured　turmoil　of　the　floor；　where
from　time　to　time　the　younger　promenaders　broke　away　from　the　ranks　into
a　waltz；　and　after　some　turns　drifted　back；　smiling　and　controlling　their
quick　breath；　and　resumed　their　promenade。　　The　place　was　intensely
light；　in　the　candour　of　a　summer　day　which　had　no　reserves；　and　the
brilliancy　was　not　broken　by　the　simple　decorations。　　Ropes　of　wild
laurel　twisted　up　the　pine　posts　of　the　aisles；　and　swung　in　festoons
overhead；　masses　of　tropical　plants　in　pots　were　set　along　between　the
posts　on　one　side　of　the　room；　and　on　the　other　were　the　lunch　tables；
where　a　great　many　people　were　standing　about；　eating　chicken　and　salmon
salads；　or　strawberries　and　ice…cream；　and　drinking　claret…cup。　　From　the
whole　rose　that　blended　odour　of　viands；　of　flowers；　of　stuff's；　of
toilet　perfumes；　which　is　the　characteristic　expression　of；　all　social
festivities；　and　which　exhilarates　or　depressesaccording　as　one　is　new
or　old　to　it。

Elbridge　Mavering　kept　looking　at　the　faces　of　the　young　men　as　if　he
expected　to　see　a　certain　one；　then　he　turned　his　eyes　patiently　upon。
the　faces　around　him。　　He　had　been　introduced　to　a　good　many　persons；　but
he　had　come　to　that　time　of　life　when　an　introduction；　unless　charged
with　some　special　interest；　only　adds　the　pain　of　doubt　to　the　wearisome
encounter　of　unfamiliar　people；　and　he　had　unconsciously　put　on　the
severity　of　a　man　who　finds　himself　without　acquaintance　where　others　are
meeting　friends；　when　a　small　man；　with　a　neatly　trimmed　reddish…grey
beard　and　prominent　eyes；　stepped　in　front　of　him；　and　saluted　him　with
the　〃Hello；　Mavering！〃　of　a　contemporary。

His　face；　after　a　moment　of　question；　relaxed　into　joyful　recognition。
〃Why；　John　Munt！　is　that　you？〃　he　said；　and　he　took　into　his　large　moist
palm　the　dry　little　hand　of　his　friend；　while　they　both　broke　out　into
the　incoherencies　of　people　meeting　after　a　long　time。　　Mr。　Mavering
spoke　in　it　voice　soft　yet　firm；　and　with　a　certain　thickness　of　tongue；
which　gave　a　boyish　charm　to　his　slow；　utterance；　and　Mr。　Munt　used　the
sort　of　bronchial　snuffle　sometimes　cultivated　among　us　as　a　chest　tone。
But　they　were　cut　short　in　their　intersecting　questions　and　exclamations
by　the　presence　of　the　lady　who　detached　herself　from　Mr。　Munt's　arm　as
if　to　leave　him　the　freer　for　his　hand…shaking。

〃Oh！〃　he　said；　suddenly　recurring　to　her；　〃let　me　introduce　you　to　Mrs。
Pasmer；　Mr。　Mavering；〃　and　the　latter　made　a　bow　that　creased　his
waistcoat　at　about　the　height　of　Mrs。　Pasmer's　pretty　little　nose。

His　waistcoat　had　the　curve　which　waistcoats　often　describe　at　his　age；
and　his　heavy　shoulders　were　thrown　well　back　to　balance　this　curve。　　His
coat　hung　carelessly　open；　the　Panama　hat　in　his　hand　suggested　a　certain
habitual　informality　of　dress；　but　his　smoothly　shaven　large　handsome
face；　with　its　jaws　slowly　ruminant　upon　nothing；　intimated　the
consequence　of　a　man　accustomed　to　supremacy　in　a　subordinate　place。

Mrs。　Pasmer　looked　up　to　acknowledge　the　introduction　with　a　sort　of
pseudo…respectfulness　which　it　would　be　hard　otherwise　to　describe。
Whether　she　divined　or　not　that　she　was　in　the　presence　of　a　magnate　of
some　sort；　she　was　rather　superfluously　demure　in　the　first　two　or　three
things　she　said；　and　was　all　sympathy　and　interest　in　the　meeting　of
these　old　friends。　　They　declared　that　they　had　not　seen　each　other　for
twenty　years；　or；　at　any　rate；　not　since　'59。　　She　listened　while　they
disputed　about　the　exact　date；　and　looked　from　time　to　time　at　Mr。　Munt；
as　if　for　some　explanation　of　Mr。　Mavering；　but　Munt　himself；　when　she
saw　him　last；　had　only　just　begun　to　commend　himself　to　society；　which
had　since　so　fully　accepted　him；　and　she　had　so　suddenly；　the　moment
before；　found　her　self　hand　in　glove　with　him　that　she　might　well　have
appealed　to　a　third　person　for　some　explanation　of　Munt。　　But　she　was　not
a　woman　to　be　troubled　much　by　this　momentary　mystification；　and　she　was
not　embarrassed　at　all　when　Munt　said；　as　if　it　had　all　been　pre…
arranged；　〃Well；　now；　Mrs。　Pasmer；　if　you'll　let　me　leave　you　with　Mr。
Mavering　a　moment；　I'll　go　off　and　bring　that　unnatural　child　to　you；　no
use　dragging　you　round　through　this　crowd　longer。〃

He　made　a　gesture　intended；　in　the　American　manner；　to　be　at　once　polite
and　jocose；　and　was　gone；　leaving　Mrs。　Pasmer　a　little　surprised；　and　Mr。
Mavering　in　some　misgiving；　which　he　tried　to　overcome　pressing　his　jaws
together　two　or　three　times　without　speaking。　　She　had　no　trouble　in
getting　in　the　first　remark。　　〃Isn't　all　this　charming；　Mr。　Mavering？〃
She　spoke　in　a　deep　low　voice；　with　a　caressing　manner；　and　stood　looking
up；　at　Mr。　Mavering　with　one　shoulder　shrugged　and　the　other　drooped；　and
a　tasteful　composition　of　her　fan　and　hands　and　handkerchief　at　her
waist。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　it　is；〃　said　Mr。　Mavering。　　He　seemed　to　say　ma'am　to　her
with　a　public　or　official　accent；　which　sent　Mrs。　Primer's　mind
fluttering　forth　to　poise　briefly　at　such　conjectures　as；　〃Congressman
from　a　country　district？　judge　of　the　Common　Pleas？　bank　president？
railroad　superintendent？　leading　physician　in　a　large　town？
no；　Mr。　Munt　said　Mister；〃　and　then　to　return　to　her　pretty　blue　eyes；
and　to　centre　there　in　that　pseudo…respectful　attention　under　the　arch　of
her　neat　brows　and　her　soberly　crinkled　grey…threaded　brown　hair　and　her
very　appropriate　bonnet。　　A　bonnet；　she　said；　was　much　more　than　half　the
battle　after　forty；　and　it　was　now　quite　after　forty　with　Mrs。　Pasmer；
but　she　was　very　well　dressed　otherwise。　　Mr。　Mavering　went　on　to　say；
with　a　deliberation　that　seemed　an　element　of　his　unknown　dignity；
whatever　it　might　be；　〃A　number　of　the　young　fellows　together　can　give　a
much　finer　spread；　and　make　more　of　the　day；　in　a　place　like　this；　than
we　used　to　do　in　our　rooms。〃

〃Ah；　then　you're　a　Harvard　man　too！〃　said　Mrs。　Primer　to　herself；　with
surprise；　which　she　kept　to　herself；　and　she　said　to　Mavering：　〃Oh　yes；
indeed！　　It's　altogether　better。　　Aren't　they　nice　looking　fellows？〃　she
said；　putting　up　her　glass　to　look　at　the　promenaders。

〃Yes；〃　Mr。　Mavering　assented。　　〃I　suppose；〃　he　added；　out　of　the
consciousness　of　his　own　relation　to　the　affair〃I　suppose　you've　a　son
somewhere　here？〃

〃Oh　dear；　no！〃　cried　Mrs。　Primer；　with　a　mingling；　superhuman；　but　for
her　of　ironical　deprecation　and　derision。　　〃Only　a　daughter；　Mr。
Mavering。〃

At　this　feat　of　Mrs。　Pasmer's；　Mr。　Mavering　looked　at　her　with　question
as　to　her　precise　intention；　and　ended　by　repeating；　hopelessly；　〃Only　a
daughter？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　a　sigh　of　the　same　irony；　〃only　a　poor；
despised　young　girl；　Mr。　Mavering。〃

〃You　speak；〃　said　Mr。　Mavering；　beginning　to　catch　on　a　little；　〃as　if　it
were　a　misfortune；〃　and　his；　dignity　broke　up　into　a　smile　that　had　its
queer　fascination。

〃Why；　isn't　it？〃　asked　Mrs。　Pasmer。

〃Well；　I　shouldn't　have　thought　so。〃

〃Then　you　don't　believe　that　all　that　old…fashioned　chivalry　and　devotion
have　gone　out？　　You　don't　think　the　young　men　are　all　spoiled　nowadays；
and　expect　the　young　ladies　to　offer　them　attentions？〃

〃No；〃　said　Mr。　Mavering　slowly；　as　if　recovering　from　the　shock　of　the
novel　ideas。　　〃Do　you？〃

〃Oh；　I'm　such　a　stranger　in　BostonI've　lived　abroad　so　longthat　I
don't　know。　　One　hears　all　kinds　of　things。　　But　I'm　so　glad　you're　not
one　of　thosepessimists！〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mr。　Mavering；　still　thoughtfully；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　can
speak　by　the　card　exactly。　　I　can't　say　how　it　is　now。　　I　haven't　been　at
a　Class　Day　spread　since　my　own　Class　Day；　I　haven't　even　been　at
Commencement　more　than　once　or　twice。　　But　in　my　time　here　we　didn't
expect　the　young　ladies　to　show　us　attentions；　at　any　rate；　we　didn't
wait　for　them　to　do　it。　　We　were　very　glad；　to　be　asked　to　meet　them；
and　we　thought　it　an　honour　if　the　young　ladies　would　let　us　talk　or
dance　with　them；　or　take　them　to　picnics。　　I　don't　think　that　any　of　them
could　complain　of　want　of　attention。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　〃that's　what　I　preached；　that's　what　I
prophesied；　when　I　brought　my　daughter　home　from　Europe。　　I　told　her　that
a　girl's　life　in　America　was　one　long　triumph；　but　they　say　now　that
girls　have　more　attention　in　London　even　than　in　Cambridge。　　One　hears
such　dreadful　things！〃

〃Like　what？〃　asked　Mr。　Mavering；　with　the　unserious　interest　which　Mrs。
Primer　made　most　people　feel　in　her　talk。

〃Oh；　it's　too　vast　a　subject。　　But　they　tell　you　about　charming　girls
moping　the　whole　evening　through　at　Boston　parties；　with　no　young　men　to
talk　with；　and　sitting　from　the　beginning　to　the　end　of　an　assembly　and
not　going　on　the　floor　once。　　They　say　that　unless　a　girl　fairly　throws
herself　at　the　young　men's　heads　she　isn't　noticed。　　It's　this　terrible
disproportion　of　the　sexes　that's　at　the　root　of　it；　I　suppose；　it
reverses　everything。　　There　aren't　enough　young　men　to　go　half　round；　and
they　know　it；　and　take　advantage　of　it。　　I　suppose　it　began　in　the　war。〃

He　laughed；　and；　〃I　should　think；〃　he　said；　laying　hold　of　a　single　idea
out　of　several　which　she　had　presented；　〃that　there　would　always　be
enough　young　men　in　Cambridge　to　go　round。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　gave　a　little　cry。　　〃In　Cambridge！〃

〃Yes；　when　I　was　in　college　our　superiority　was　entirely　numerical。〃

〃But　that's　all　passed　long　ago；　from　what　I　hear；〃　retorted　Mrs。　Pasmer。
〃I　know　very　well　that　it　used　to　be　thought　a　great　advantage　for　a　girl
to　be　brought　up　in　Cambridge；　because　it　gave　her　independence　and　ease
of　manner　to　have　so　many　young　men　attentive　to　her。　　But　they　say　the
students　all　go　into　Boston　now；　and　if　the　Cambridge　girls　want　to　meet
them；　they　have　to　go　there　too。　　Oh；　I　assure　you　that；　from　what　I
hear；　they've　changed　all　that　since　our　time；　Mr。　Mavering。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　was　certainly　letting　herself　go　a　little　more　than　she　would
have　approved　of　in　another。　　The　result　was　apparent　in　the　jocosity　of
this　heavy　Mr。　Mavering's　reply。

〃Well；　then；　I'm　glad　that　I　was　of　our　time；　and　not　of　this　wicked
generation。　　But　I　presume　that　unnatural　supremacy　of　the　young　men　is
brought　low；　so　to　speak；　after　marriage？〃

Mrs。　Primer　let　herself　go　a　little　further。　　〃Oh；　give　us　an　equal
cha