april hopes-第4章

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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were　withdrawn　under　the　shade　in　the　street；　and　their　drivers　lounged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　all。〃

〃But　you'll　have　to　leave　us　very　soon　to　get　yourself　ready　for　the
Tree〃　suggested　the　Professor's　lady；　with　a　motherly　prevision。

〃I　shall　want　just　fifteen　minutes　for　that。〃

〃I　know；　better；　Mr。　Mavering；〃　said　Mrs。　Saintsbury；　with　finality。
〃You　will　want　a　good　three…quarters　of　an　hour　to　make　yourself　as
disreputable　as　you'll　look　at　the　Tree；　and　you'll　have　to　take　time　for
counsel　and　meditation。　　You　may　stay　with　us　just　half　an　hour；　and
then　we　shall　part　inexorably。　　I've　seen　a　great　many　more　Class
Days　than　you　have；　and　I　know　what　they　are　in　their　demands　upon　the
Seniors。〃

〃Oh；　well！　　Then　we　won't　think　about　the　time；〃　said　the　young　man；
starting　on　with　Miss　Pasmer。

〃Well；　don't　undertake　too　much；〃　said　the　lady。　　She　came　last　in　the
little　procession；　with　the　elder　Mavering；　and　her　husband　and　Mrs
Pasmer　preceded　her。

〃What？〃　young　Mavering　called　back；　with　his　smiling　face　over　his
shoulder。

〃She　says　not　to　bite　off　more　than　you　can　chew；〃　the　professor　answered
for　her。

Mavering　broke　into　a　conscious　laugh；　but　full　of　delight；　and　with　his
handkerchief　to　his　face　had　almost　missed　the　greeting　of　some　ladies
who　bowed　to　him。　　He　had　to　turn　round　to　acknowledge　it；　and　he　was
saluting　and　returning　salutations　pretty　well　all　along　the　line　of
their　progress。

〃I'm　afraid　you'll　think　I'm　everybody's　friend　but　my　own；　Miss　Pasmer；
but　I　assure　you　all　this　is　purely　accidental。　　I　don't　know　so　many
people；　after　all；　only　all　that　I　do　know　seem　to　be　here　this　morning。〃

〃I　don't　think　it's　a　thing　to　be　sorry　for；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃I　wish　we
knew　more　people。　　It's　rather　forlorn〃

〃Oh；　will　you　let　me　introduce　some　of　the　fellows　to　you？　　They'll　be　so
glad。〃

〃If　you'll　tell　them　how　forlorn　I　said　I　was；〃　said　the　girl；　with　a
smile。

〃Oh；　no；　no；　no！　　I　understand　that。　　And　I　assure　you　that　I　didn't
supposeBut　of　course！〃　he　arrested　himself　in　the　superfluous
reassurance　he　was　offering；　〃All　that　goes　without　saying。　　Only　there
are　some　of　the　fellows　coming　back　to　the　law　school；　and　if　you'll
allow　me〃

〃We　shall　be　very　happy　indeed；　Mr。　Mavering；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　behind
him。

〃Oh；　thank　you　ever　so　much；　Mrs。　Pasmer。〃　　This　was　occasion　for　another
burst　of　laughter　with　him。　　He　seemed　filled　with　the　intoxication　of
youth；　whose　spirit　was　in　the　bright　air　of　the　day　and　radiant　in　the
young　faces　everywhere。　　The　paths　intersecting　one　another　between　the
different　dormitories　under　the　drooping　elms　were　thronged　with　people
coming　and　going　in　pairs　and　groups；　and　the　academic　fete；　the
prettiest　flower　of　our　tough　old　Puritan　stem；　had　that　charm；　at　once
sylvan　and　elegant；　which　enraptures　in　the　pictured　fables　of　the
Renaissance。　　It　falls　at　that　moment　of　the　year　when　the　old　university
town；　often　so　commonplace　and　sometimes　so　ugly；　becomes　briefly　and
almost　pathetically　beautiful　under　the　leafage　of　her　hovering　elms　and
in；　the　perfume　of　her　syringas；　and　bathed　in　this　joyful　tide　of　youth
that　overflows　her　heart。　　She　seems　fit　then　to　be　the　home　of　the　poets
who　have　loved　her　and　sung　her；　and　the　regret　of　any　friend　of　the
humanities　who　has　left　her。

〃Alice；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　leaning　forward　a　little　to　speak　to　her
daughter；　and　ignoring　a　remark　of　the　Professor's；　〃did　you　ever　see　so
many　pretty　costumes？〃

〃Never；〃　said　the　girl；　with　equal　intensity。

〃Well；　it　makes　you　feel　that　you　have　got　a　country；　after　all；〃　sighed
Mrs。　Pasmer；　in　a　sort　of　apostrophe　to　her　European　self。　　〃You　see
splendid　dressing　abroad；　but　it's　mostly　upon　old　people　who　ought　to　be
sick　and　ashamed　of　their　pomps　and　vanities。　　But　here　it's　the　young
girls　who　dress；　and　how　lovely　they　are！　　I　thought　they　were　charming
in　the　Gymnasium；　but　I　see　you　must　get　them　out…of…doors　to　have　the
full　effect。　　Mr。　Mavering；　are　they　always　so　prettily　dressed　on　Class
Day？〃

〃Well；　I'm　beginning　to　feel　as　if　it　wouldn't　be　exactly　modest　for　me
to　say　so；　whatever　I　think。　　You'd　better　ask　Mrs。　Saintsbury；　she
pretends　to　know　all　about　it。〃

〃No；　I'm　bound　to　say　they're　not；〃　said　the　Professor's　wife　candidly。
〃Your　daughter；〃　she　added；　in　a　low　tone　for　all　to　hear；　〃decides　that
question。〃

〃I'm　so　glad　you　said　that；　Mrs。　Saintsbury；〃　said　the　young　man。　　He
looked　at　the　girl；　who　blushed　with　a　pleasure　that　seemed　to　thrill　to
the　last　fibre　of　her　pretty　costume。

She　could　not　say　anything；　but　her　mother　asked；　with　an　effort　at　self…
denial：　〃Do　you　think　so　really？　　It's　one　of　those　London　things。　　They
have　so　much　taste　there　now；〃　she　added　yielding　to　her　own　pride　in　the
dress。

〃Yes；　I　supposed　it　must　be；〃　said　Mrs。　Saintsbury；　〃We　used　to　come　in
muslins　and　tremendous　hoopsdon't　you　remember？〃

〃Did　you　look　like　your　photographs？〃　asked　young　Mavering；　over　his
shoulder。

〃Yes；　but　we　didn't　know　it　then；〃　said　the　Professor's　wife。

〃Neither　did　we；〃　said　the　Professor。　　〃We　supposed　that　there　had　never
been　anything　equal　to　those　hoops　and　white　muslins。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　said　his　wife；　tapping　him　between　the　shoulders
with　her　fan。　　〃Now　don't　go　any　further。〃

〃Do　you　mean　about　our　first　meeting　here　on　Class　Day？〃　asked　her
husband。

〃They'll　think　so　now；〃　said　Mrs。　Saintsbury　patiently；　with　a　playful
threat　of　consequences　in　her　tone。

〃When　I　first　saw　the　present　Mrs。　Saintsbury；〃　pursued　the　Professorit
was　his　joking　way；　of　describing　her；　as　if　there　had　been　several　other
Mrs。　Saintsburys〃she　was　dancing　on　the　green　here。〃

〃Ah；　they　don't　dance　on　the　green　any　more；　I　hear；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Pasmer。

〃No；　they　don't；〃　said　the　other　lady；　〃and　I　think　it's　just　as　well。
It　was　always　a　ridiculous　affectation　of　simplicity。〃

〃It　must　have　been　rather　public；〃　said　young　Mavering；　in　a　low　voice；
to　Miss　Pasmer。

〃It　doesn't　seem　as　if　it　could　ever　have　been　in　character　quite；〃　she
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