april hopes-第9章

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however；　and　he　had　not　shared　his　wife's　question　of　mind　at　a　temporary
phase　of　Alice's　development　when　she　showed　a　decided　inclination　for　a
religious　life。　　He　had　apparently　not　observed　that　the　girl　had　a
pensive　temperament　in　spite　of　the　effect　of　worldly　splendour　which　her
mother　contrived　for　her；　and　that　this　pensiveness　occasionally　deepened
to　gloom。　　He　had　certainly　never　seen　that　in　a　way　of　her　own　she　was
very　romantic。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　had　seen　it；　with　amusement　sometimes；　and
sometimes　with　anxiety；　but　always　with　the　courage　to　believe　that　she
could　cope　with　it　when　it　was　necessary。

Whenever　it　was　necessary　she　had　all　the　moral　courage　she　wanted；　it
seemed　as　if　she　could　have　it　or　not　as　she　liked；　and　in　coming　home
she　had　taken　a　flat　instead　of　a　house；　though　she　had　not　talked　with
her　friends　three　minutes　without　perceiving　that　the　moment　when　flats
had　promised　to　assert　their　social　equality　with　houses　in　Boston　was
past　for　ever。　　There　were；　of　course；　cases　in　which　there　could　be　no
question　of　them；　but　for　the　most　part　they　were　plainly　regarded　as
makeshifts；　the　resorts　of　people　of　small　means；　or　the　defiances　or
errors　of　people　who　had　lived　too　much　abroad。　　They　stamped　their
occupants　as　of　transitory　and　fluctuant　character；　good　people　might
live　in　them；　and　did；　as　good　people　sometimes　boarded；　but　they　could
not　be　regarded　as　forming　a　social　base；　except　in　rare　instances。　　They
presented　peculiar　difficulties　in　calling；　and　for　any　sort　of
entertainment　they　were　toonot　public；　perhaps；　butevident。

In　spite　of　these　objections　Mrs。　Pasmer　took　a　flat　in　the　Cavendish；
and　she　took　it　furnished　from　people　who　were　going　abroad　for　a　year。




X。

Mrs。　Pasmer　stood　at　the　drawing…room　window　of　this　apartment；　the
morning　after　her　call　upon　Mrs。　Saintsbury；　looking　out　on　the　passage
of　an　express…wagon　load　of　trunks　through　Cavendish　Square；　and
commenting　the　fact　with　the　tacit　reflection　that　it　was　quite　time　she
should　be　getting　away　from　Boston　too；　when　her　daughter；　who　was
looking　out　of　the　other　window；　started　significantly　back。

〃What　is　it；　Alice？〃

〃Nothing！　　Mr。　Mavering；　I　think；　and　that　friend　of　his〃

〃Which　friend？　　But　where？　　Don't　look！　　They　will　think　we　were　watching
them。　　I　can't　see　them　at　all。　　Which　way　were　they　going？〃　　Mrs。　Pasmer
dramatised　a　careless　unconsciousness　to　the　square；　while　vividly
betraying　this　anxiety　to　her　daughter。

Alice　walked　away　to　the　furthest　part　of　the　room。　　〃They　are　coming
this　way；〃　she　said　indifferently。

Before　Mrs。　Pasmer　had　time　to　prepare　a　conditional　mood；　adapted　either
to　their　coming　that　way　or　going　some　other；　she　heard　the　janitor　below
in　colloquy　with　her　maid　in　the　kitchen；　and　then　the　maid　came　in　to
ask　if　she　should　say　the　ladies　were　at　home。　　〃Oh；　certainly；〃　said
Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　a　caressing　politeness　that　anticipated　the　tone　she
meant　to　use　with　Mavering　and　his　friend。　　〃Were　you　going；　Alice？
Better　stay。　　It　would　be　awkward　sending　out　for　you。　　You　look　well
enough。〃

〃Well！〃

The　young　men　came　in；　Mavering　with　his　nervous　laugh　first；　and　then
Boardman　with　his　twinkling　black　eyes；　and　his　main…force　self…
possession。

〃We　couldn't　go　away　as　far　as　New　London　without　coming　to　see　whether
you　had　really　survived　Class　Day；〃　said　the　former；　addressing　his
solicitude　to　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃I　tried　to　find　out　from；　Mrs。　Saintsbury；
but　she　was　very　noncommittal。〃　　He　laughed　again；　and　shook　hands　with
Alice；　whom　he　now　included　in　his　inquiry。

〃I'm　glad　she　was；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmerinwardly　wondering　what　he　meant　by
going　to　New　London〃if　it　sent　you　to　ask　in　person。〃　　She　made　them
sit　down；　and　she　made　as　little　as　possible　of　the　young　ceremony　they
threw　into　the　transaction。　　To　be　cosy；　to　be　at　ease　instantly；　was
Mrs。　Pasmer's　way。　　〃We've　not　only　survived；　we've　taken　a　new　lease　of
life　from　Class　Day。　　I'd　for　gotten　how　charming　it　always　was。　　Or
perhaps　it　didn't　use　to　be　so　charming？　　I　don't　believe　they　have
anything　like　it　in　Europe。　　Is　it　always　so　brilliant？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Mavering。　　〃I　really　believe　it　was　rather　a　nice
one。〃

〃Oh；　we　were　both　enraptured；〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer。

Alice　added　a　quiet　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　and　her　mother　went　on

〃And　we　thought　the　Beck　Hall　spread　was　the　crowning　glory　of　the　whole
affair。　　We　owe　ever　so　much　to　your　kindness。〃

〃Oh；　not　at　all；〃　said　Mavering。

〃But　we　were　talking　afterward；　Alice　and　I；　about　the　sudden
transformation　of　all　that　disheveled　crew　around　the　Tree　into　the
imposing　swellsmay　I　say　howling　swells？〃

〃Yes；　do　say　'howling；'　Mrs。　Pasmer！〃　implored　the　young　man。

〃whom　we　met　afterward　at　the　spread；〃　she　concluded。　　〃How　did　you
manage　it　all？　　Mr。　Irving　in　the　'Lyons　Mail'　was　nothing　to　it。　　We
thought　we　had　walked　directly　over　from　the　Tree；　and　there　you　were；
all　ready　to　receive　us；　in　immaculate　evening　dress。〃

〃It　was　pretty　quick　work；〃　modestly　admitted　the　young　man。　　〃Could　you
recognise　any　one　in　that　hurly…burly　round　the　Tree？〃

〃We　didn't　till　you　rose；　like　a　statue　of　Victory；　and　began　grabbing
for　the　spoils　from　the　heads　and　shoulders　of　your　friends。　　Who　was
your　pedestal？〃

Mavering　put　his　hand　on　his　friend's　broad　shoulder；　and　gave　him　a
playful　push。

Boardman　turned　up　his　little　black　eyes　at　him；　with　a　funny　gleam　in
them。

〃Poor　Mr。　Boardman！〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer。

〃It　didn't　hurt　him　a　bit；〃　said　Mavering；　pushing　him。　　〃He　liked　it。〃

〃Of　course　he　did；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　implying；　in　flattery　of　Mavering；
that　Boardman　might　be　glad　of　the　distinction；　and　now　Boardman　looked
as　if　he　were　not。　　She　began　to　get　away　in　adding；　〃But　I　wonder　you
don't　kill　each　other。〃

〃Oh；　we're　not　so　easily　killed；〃　said　Mavering。

〃And　what　a　fairy　scene　it　was　at　the　spread！〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　turning
to　Boardman。　She　had　already　talked　its　splendours　over　with　Mavering　the
same　evening。　　〃I　thought　we　should　never　get　out　of　the　Hall；　but　when
we　did　get　out　of　the　window　upon　that　tapestried　platform；　and　down　on
the　tennis…ground；　with　Turkey　rugs　to　hide　the　bare　spots　in　it〃　　She
stopped　as　people　do　when　it　is　better　to　leave　the　effect　to　the
listener's　imagination。

〃Yes；　I　think　it　was　rather　nice；〃　said　Boardman。

〃Nice？〃　repeated　Mrs。　Pasmer；　and　she　looked　at　Mavering。　　〃Is　that　the
famous　Harvard　Indifferentism？〃

〃No；　no；　Mrs。　Pasmer！　　It's　just　his　personal　envy。　　He　wasn't　in　the
spread；　and　of　course　he　doesn't　like　to　hear　any　one　praise　it。　　Go　on！〃
They　all　laughed。

〃Well；　even　Mr。　Boardman　will　admit；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　〃that　nothing
could　have　been　prettier　than　that　pavilion　at　the　bottom　of　the　lawn；
and　the　little　tables　scattered　about　over　it；　and　all　those　charming
young　creatures　under　that　lovely　evening　sky。〃

〃Ah！　　Even　Boardman　can't　deny　that。　　We　did　have　the　nicest　crowd；
didn't　we？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　playfully　checking　herself　in　a　ready　adhesion；
〃that　depends　a　good　deal　upon　where　Mr。　Boardman's　spread　was。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Boardman。

〃He　wasn't　spreading　anywhere；〃　cried　his　friend。　　〃Except　himselfhe
was　spreading　himself　everywhere。〃

〃Then　I　think　I　should　prefer　to　remain　neutral；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with
a　mock　prudence　which　pleased　the　young　men。　　In　the　midst　of　the
pleasure　the　was　giving　and　feeling　she　was　all　the　time　aware　that　her
daughter　had　contributed　but　one　remark　to　the　conversation；　and　that　she
must　be　seeming　very　stiff　and　cold。　　She　wondered　what　that　meant；　and
whether　she　disliked　this　little　Mr。　Boardman；　or　whether　she　was　again
trying　to　punish　Mr：　Mavering　for　something；　and；　if　so；　what　it　was。
Had　he　offended　her　in　some　way　the　other　day？　　At　any　rate；　she　had　no
right　to　show　it。　　She　longed　for　some　chance　to　scold　the　girl；　and　tell
her　that　it　would　not　do；　and　make　her　talk。　　Mr。　Mavering　was　merely　a
friendly　acquaintance；　and　there　could　be　no　question　of　anything
personal。　　She　forgot　that　between　young　people　the　social　affair　is
always　trembling　to　the　personal　affair。

In　the　little　pause　which　these　reflections　gave　her　mother；　the　girl
struck　in；　with　the　coolness　that　always　astonished　Mrs。　Pasmer；　and　as
if　she　had　been　merely　waiting　till　some　phase　of　the　talk　interested
her。

〃Are　many　of　the　students　going　to　the　race？〃　she　asked　Boardman。

〃Yes；　nearly　everybody。　　That　is〃

〃The　race？〃　queried　Mrs。　Pasmer。

Yes；　at　New　London；〃　Mavering　broke　in。　　〃Don't　you　know？　　The　University
raceHarvard　and　Yale。〃

〃Ohoh　yes；〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer；　wondering　how　her　daughter　should　know
about　the　race；　and　she　not。　　〃Had　they　talked　it　over　together　on　Class
Day？〃　she　asked　herself。　　She　felt　herself；　in　spite　of　her　efforts　to
keep　even　with　them；　left　behind　and　left　out；　as　later　age　must　be
distanced　and　excluded　by　youth。　　〃Are　you　gentlemen　going　to　row？〃　she
asked　Mavering。

〃No；　they've　ruled　the　tubs　out　this　time；　and　we　should　send　anything
else　to　the　bottom。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　perceived　that　he　was　joking；　but　also　that　they　were　not　of
the　crew；　and　she　said　that　if　that　was　the　case　the　should　not　go。

〃Oh；　don't　let　that　keep　you　away！　　Aren't　you　going？　　I　hoped　you　were
going；〃　continued　the　young　man；　speaking　with　his　eyes　on　Mrs。　Pasmer；
but　with　his　mind；　as　she　could　see　by　his　eyes；　on　her　daughter。

〃No；　no。〃

〃Oh；　do　go；　Mrs。　Pasmer！〃　he　urged：　〃I　wish　you'd　go　along　to　chaperon
us。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　accepted　the　notion　with　amusement。　　〃I　should　think　you
might　look　after　each　other。　　At　any　rate；　I　think　I　must　trust　you　to
Mr。　Boardman　this　time。〃

〃Yes；　but　he's　going　on　business；〃　persisted　Mavering；　as　if　for　the
pleasure　he　found　in　fencing　with　the　air；　〃and　he　can't　look　after　me。〃

〃On　business？〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　dropping　her　outspread　fan　on　her　lap；
incredulously。

〃Yes；　he's　going　into　journalismhe's　gone　into　it；〃　laughed　Mavering；
〃and　he's　going　down　to　report　the　race　for　the　'Events'。〃

〃Really！〃　asked　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　a　glance　at　Boardman；　whose　droll
embarrassment　did　not　contradict　his　friend's　words。　　〃How　splendid！〃　she
cried。　　〃I　had；　heard　that　a　great　many　Harvard　men　were　taking　up
journalism。　　I'm　so　glad　of　it！　　It　will　do　everything　to　elevate　its
tone。〃

Boardman　seemed　to　suffer　under　these　expectations　a　little；　and　he　stole
a　glance　of　comical　menace　at　his　friend。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mavering；　〃you'll　see　a　very　different　tone　about　the　fires；
and　the　fights；　and　the　distressing　accidents；　in　the　'Events'　after
this。〃

〃What　does　he　mean？〃　she　asked　Boardman；　giving　him　unavoidably　the
advantage　of　the　caressing　manner　which　was　in　her　mind　for　Mavering。

〃Well；　you　see；〃　said　Boardman；　〃we　have　to　begin　pretty　low　down。〃

〃Oh；　but　all　departments　of　our　press　need　reforming；　don't　they？〃　she
inquired　consolingly。　　〃One　hears　such　shocking　things　about　our　papers
abroad。　　I'm　sure　that　the　more　Harvard　men　go　into　them　the　better。　　And
how　splendid　it　is　to　have　them　going　into　politics　the　way　they　are！
They're　going　into　politics　too；　aren't　they？〃　　She　looked