april hopes-第2章

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Mrs。　Primer　let　herself　go　a　little　further。　　〃Oh；　give　us　an　equal
chance；〃　she　laughed；　〃and　we　can　always　take　care　of　ourselves；　and
something　more。　　They　say；〃　she　added；　〃that　the　young　married　women　now
have　all　the　attention　that　girls　could　wish。〃

〃H'm！〃　said　Mr。　Mavering；　frowning。　　〃I　think　I　should　be　tempted　to　box
my　boy's　ears　if　I　saw　him　paying　another　man's　wife　attention。〃

〃What　a　Roman　father！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer；　greatly　amused；　and　letting
herself　go　a　little　further　yet。　　She　said　to　herself　that　she　really
must　find　out　who　this　remarkable　Mr。　Mavering　was；　and　she　cast　her　eye
over　the　hall　for　some　glimpse　of　the　absent　Munt；　whose　arm　she　meant　to
take；　and　whose　ear　she　meant　to　fill　with　questions。　　But　she　did　not
see　him；　and　something　else　suggested　itself。　　〃He　probably　wouldn't　let
you　see　him；　or　if　he　did；　you　wouldn't　know　it。〃

〃How　not　know　it？〃

Mrs。　Primer　did　not　answer。　　〃One　hears　such　dreadful　things。　　What　do
you　sayor　you'll　think　I'm　a　terrible　gossip〃

〃Oh　no；〃　said　Mr：　Mavering；　impatient　for　the　dreadful　thing；　whatever　it
was。

Mrs。　Primer　resumed：　〃to　the　young　married　women　meeting　last　winter
just　after　a　lot　of　pretty　girls　had　came　out；　and　magnanimously
resolving　to　give　the　Buds　a　chance　in　society？〃

〃The　Buds？〃

〃Yes；　the　Rose…budsthe　debutantes；　it's　an　odious　little　word；　but
everybody　uses　it。　　Don't　you　think　that's　a　strange　state　of　things　for
America？　　But　I　can't　believe　all　those　things；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；
flinging　off　the　shadow　of　this　lurid　social　condition。　　〃Isn't　this　a
pretty　scene？〃

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　Mr。　Mavering　admitted；　withdrawing　his　mind　gradually　from
a　consideration　of　Mrs。　Pasmer's　awful　instances。　　〃Yes！〃　he　added；　in
final　self…possession。　　〃The　young　fellows　certainly　do　things　in　a　great
deal　better　style　nowadays　than　we　used　to。〃

〃Oh　yes；　indeed！　　And　all　those　pretty　girls　do　seem　to　be　having　such　a
good　time！〃

〃Yes；　they　don't　have　the　despised　and　rejected　appearance　that　you'd
like　to　have　one　believe。〃

〃Not　in　the　least！〃　Mrs。　Pasmer　readily　consented。　　〃They　look　radiantly
happy。　　It　shows　that　you　can't　trust　anything　that　people　say　to　you。〃
She　abandoned　the　ground　she　had　just　been　taking　without　apparent　shame
for　her　inconsistency。　　〃I　fancy　it's　pretty　much　as　it's　always　been：　if
a　girl　is　attractive；　the　young　men　find　it　out。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Mr：　Mavering；　unbending　with　dignity；　〃the　young　married
women　have　held　another　meeting；　and　resolved　to　give　the　Buds　one　more
chance。〃

〃Oh；　there　are　some　pretty　mature　Roses　here；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　laughing
evasively。　　〃But　I　suppose　Class　Day　can　never　be　taken　from　the　young
girls。〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　Mr。　Mavering。　　His　wandering　eye　fell　upon　some　young
men　bringing　refreshments　across　the　nave　toward　them；　and　he　was
reminded　to　ask　Mrs。　Pasmer；　〃Will　you　have　something　to　eat？〃　　He　had
himself　had　a　good　deal　to　eat；　before　he　took　up　his　position　at　the
advantageous　point　where　John　Munt　had　found　him。

〃Why；　yes；　thank　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃I　ought　to　say；　'An　ice；
please；'　but　I'm　really　hungry；　and〃

〃I'll　get　you　some　of　the　salad；〃　said　Mr。　Mavering；　with　the　increased
liking　a　man　feels　for　a　woman　when　she　owns　to　an　appetite。　　〃Sit　down
here；〃　he　added；　and　he　caught　a　vacant　chair　toward　her。　　When　he　turned
about　from　doing　so；　he　confronted　a　young　gentleman　coming　up　to　Mrs。
Pasmer　with　a　young　lady　on　his　arm；　and　making　a　very　low　bow　of
relinquishment。




II。

The　men　looked　smilingly　at　each　other　without　saying　anything；　and　the
younger　took　in　due　form　the　introduction　which　the　young　lady　gave　him。

〃My　mother；　Mr。　Mavering。〃

〃Mr。　Mavering！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer；　in　a　pure　astonishment；　before　she　had
time　to　colour　it　with　a　polite　variety　of　more　conventional　emotions。
She　glanced　at　the　two　men；　and　gave　a　little　〃Oh？〃　of　inquiry　and
resignation；　and　then　said；　demurely；　〃Let　me　introduce　you　to　Mr。
Mavering；　Alice；〃　while　the　young　fellow　laughed　nervously；　and　pulled
out　his　handkerchief；　partly　to　hide　the　play　of　his　laughter；　and　partly
to　wipe　away　the　perspiration　which　a　great　deal　more　laughing　had
already　gathered　on　his　forehead。　　He　had　a　vein　that　showed　prominently
down　its　centre；　and　large；　mobile；　girlish　blue　eyes　under　good　brows；
an　arched　nose；　and　rather　a　long　face　and　narrow　chin。　　He　had　beautiful
white　teeth；　as　he　laughed　these　were　seen　set　in　a　jaw　that　contracted
very　much　toward　the　front。　　He　was　tall　and　slim；　and　he　wore　with
elegance　the　evening　dress　which　Class　Day　custom　prescribes　for　the
Seniors；　in　his　button…hole　he　had　a　club　button。

〃I　shall　not　have　to　ask　an　introduction　to　Mr。　Mavering；　and　you've
robbed　me　of　the　pleasure　of　giving　him　one　to　you；　Mrs。　Pasmer；〃　he
said。

She　heard　the　young　man　in　the　course　of　a　swift　review　of　what　she　had
said　to　his　father；　and　with　a　formless　resentment　of　the　father's　not
having　told　her　he　had　a　son　there；　but　she　answered　with　the　flattering
sympathy　she　had　the　use　of；　〃Oh；　but　you　won't　miss　one　pleasure　out　of
so　many　to…day；　Mr。　Mavering；　and　think　of　the　little　dramatic　surprise！〃

〃Oh；　perfect；〃　he　said；　with　another　laugh。　　〃I　told　Miss　Pasmer　as　we
came　up。〃

〃Oh；　then　you　were　in　the　surprise；　Alice！〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　searching
her　daughter's　eyes　for　confession　or　denial　of　this　little　community　of
interest。　　The　girl　smiled　slightly　upon　the　young　man；　but　not
disapprovingly；　and　made　no　other　answer　to　her　mother；　who　went　on：
〃Where　in　the　world　have　you　been？　　Did　Mr。　Munt　find　you？　　Who　told　you
where　I　was？　　Did　you　see　me？　　How　did　you　know　I　was　here？　　Was　there
ever　anything　so　droll？〃　　She　did　not　mean　her　questions　to　be　answered；
or　at　least　not　then；　for；　while　her　daughter　continued　to　smile　rather
more　absently；　and　young　Mavering　broke　out　continuously　in　his　nervous
laugh；　and　his　father　stood　regarding　him　with　visible　satisfaction；　she
hummed　on；　turning　to　the　young　man：　〃But　I'm　quite　appalled　at　Alice's
having　monopolised　even　for　a　few　minutes　a　whole　Seniorand　probably　an
official　Senior　at　that；〃　she　said；　with　a　glance　at　the　pink　and　white
club　button　in　his　coat　lapel；　〃and　I　can't　let　you　stay　another　instant；
Mr。　Mavering。　　I　know　very　well　how　many　demands　you　have　upon　you　and
you　must　go　back　directly　to　your　sisters　and　your　cousins　and　your
aunts；　and　all　the　rest　of　them；　you　must　indeed。〃

〃Oh　no！　　Don't　drive　me　away；　Mrs。　Pasmer；〃　pleaded　the　young　man；
laughing　violently；　and　then　wiping　his　face。　　〃I　assure　you　that　I've　no
encumbrances　of　any　kind　here　except　my　father；　and　he　seems　to　have　been
taking　very　good　care　of　himself。〃　　They　all　laughed　at　this；　and　the
young　fellow　hurried　on：　〃Don't　be　alarmed　at　my　button；　it　only　means　a
love　of　personal　decoration；　if　that's　where　you　got　the　notion　of　my
being　an　official　Senior。　　This　isn't　my　spread；　I　shall　hope　to　welcome
you　at　Beck　Hall　after　the　Tree；　and　I　wish　you'd　let　me　be　of　use　to
you。　　Wouldn't　you　like　to　go　round　to　some　of　the　smaller　spreads？　　I
think　it　would　amuse　you。　　And　have　you　got　tickets　to　the　Tree；　to　see
us　make　fools　of　ourselves？　　It's　worth　seeing；　Mrs。　Pasmer；　I　assure
you。〃

He　rattled　on　very　rapidly　but　with　such　a　frankness　in　his　urgency；　such
amiable　kindliness；　that　Mrs。　Pasmer　could　not　feel　that　it　was　pushing。
She　looked　at　her　daughter；　but　she　stood　as　passive　in　the　transaction
as　the　elder　Mavering。　　She　was　taller　than　her　mother；　and　as　she
waited；　her　supple　figure　described　that　fine　lateral　curve　which　one
sees　in　some　Louis　Quinze　portraits；　this　effect　was　enhanced　by　the
fashion　of　her　dress　of　pale　sage　green；　with　a　wide　stripe　or　sash　of
white　dropping　down　the　front；　from　her　delicate　waist。　　The　same　simple
combination　of　colours　was　carried　up　into　her　hat；　which　surmounted
darker　hair　than　Mrs。　Pasmer's；　and　a　complexion　of　wholesome　pallor；　her
eyes　were　grey　and　grave；　with　black　brows；　and　her　face；　which　was
rather　narrow；　had　a　pleasing　irregularity　in　the　sharp　jut　of　the　nose；
in　profile　the　parting　of　the　red　lips　showed　well　back　into　the　cheek；

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　in　her　own　behalf；　and　she　added　in
his；　〃about　letting　you　take　so　much　trouble；〃　so　smoothly　that　it　would
have　been　quite　impossible　to　detect　the　point　of　union　in　the　two
utterances。

〃Well；　don't　call　it　names；　anyway；　Mrs。　Pasmer；〃　pleaded　the　young　man。
〃I　thought　it　was　nothing　but　a　pleasure　and　a　privilege〃

〃The　fact　is；〃　she　explained；　neither　consenting　nor　refusing；　〃that　we
were　expecting　to　meet　some　friends　who　had　tickets　for　us〃young
Mavering's　face　fell〃　and　I　can't　imagine　what's　happened。〃

〃Oh；　let's　hope　something　dreadful；〃　he　cried。

Perhaps　you　know　them；〃　she　delayed　further。　　〃Professor　Saintsbury！〃

〃Well；　rather！　　Why；　they　were　here　about　an　hour　agoboth　of　them。
They　must　have　been　looking　for　you。〃

〃Yes；　we　were　to　meet　them　here。　　We　waited　to　come　out　with　other
friends；　and　I　was　afraid　we　were　late。〃　　Mrs。　Pasmer's　face　expressed　a
tempered　disappointment；　and　she　looked　at　her　daughter　for　indications
of　her　wishes　in　the　circumstances；　seeing　in　her　eye　a　willingness　to
accept　young　Mavering's　invitation；　she　hesitated　more　decidedly　than　she
had　yet　done；　for　she　was；　other　things　being　equal；　quite　willing　to
accept　it　herself。　　But　other　things　were　not　equal；　and　the　whole
situation　was　very　odd。　　All　that　she　knew　of　Mr。　Mavering　the　elder　was
that　he　was　the　old　friend　of　John　Munt；　and　she　knew　far　too　little　of
John　Munt；　except　that　he　seemed　to　go　everywhere；　and　to　be　welcome；　not
to　feel　that　his　introduction　was　hardly　a　warrant　for　what　looked　like
an　impending　intimacy。　　She　did　not　dislike　Mr。　Mavering；　he　was
evidently　a　country　person　of　great　self…respect；　and　no　doubt　of　entire
respectability。　　He　seemed　very　intelligent；　too。　　He　was　a　Harvard　man；
he　had　rather　a　cultivated　manner；　or　else　naturally　a　clever　way　of
saying　things。　　But　all　that　was　really　nothing；　if　she　knew　no　more
about　him；　and　she　certainly　did　not。　　If　she　could　only　have　asked　her
daughter　who　it　was　that　presented　young　Mavering　to　her；　that　might　have
formed　some　clew；　but　there　was　no　earthly　chance　of　asking　this；　and；
besides；　it　was　probably　one　of　those　haphazard　introductions　that　people
give　on　such　occasions。　　Young　Mavering's　behaviour　gave　her　still
greater　question：　his　self…possession；　his　entire　absence　of　anxiety；
or　any　expectation　of　rebuff　or　snub；　might　be　the　ease　of　unimpeachable
social　acceptance；　or　it　might　be　merely　adventurous　effrontery；　only
something　ingenuous　and　good　in　the　young　fellow's　handsome　face　forbade
this　conclusion。　　That　his　face　was　so　handsome　was　another　of　the
complications。　　She　recalled；　in　the　dreamlike　swiftness　with　which　all
these　things　passed　through　her　mind；　what　her　friends　had　said　to　Alice
about　her　being　sure　to　meet　her　fate　on　Class　Day；　and　she　looked　at　her
again　to　see　if　she　had　met　it。

〃Well；　mamma？〃　said　the　girl；　smiling　at　her　mother's　look。

Mrs。　Pasmer　thought　she　must　have　been　keeping　young　Mavering　wa