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 waiting a
long time for his answer。 〃Why； of course； Alice。 But I really don't
know what to do about the Saintsburys。〃 This was not in the least true；
but it instantly seemed so to Mrs。 Pasmer； as a plausible excuse will
when we make it。
〃Why； I'll tell you what； Mrs。 Pasmer；〃 said young Mavering； with a
cordial unsuspicion that both won and reassured her； 〃we'll be sure to
find them at some of the spreads。 Let me be of that much use； anyway；
you must。〃
〃We really oughtn't to let you；〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer； making a last effort
to cling to her reluctance； but feeling it fail； with a sensation that
was not disagreeable。 She could not help being pleased with the pleasure
that she saw in her daughter's face。
Young Mavering's was radiant。 〃I'll be back in just half a minute；〃 he
said； and he took a gay leave of them in running to speak to another
student at the opposite end of the hall。
III。
〃You must allow me to get you something to eat first； Mrs。 Pasmer；〃 said
the elder Mavering。
〃Oh no； thank you；〃 Mrs。 Pasmer began。 But she changed her mind and
said； 〃Or； yes； I will； Mr。 Mavering： a very little salad； please。〃 She
had really forgotten her hunger； as a woman will in the presence of any
social interest； but she suddenly thought his going would give her a
chance for two words with her daughter； and so she sent him。 As he
creaked heavily across the smooth floor of the nave； 〃Alice；〃 she
whispered； 〃I don't know exactly what I've done： Who introduced this
young Mr。 Mavering to you？〃
〃Mr。 Munt。〃
〃Mr。 Munt！〃
〃Yes； he came for me； he said you sent him。 He introduced Mr。 Mavering；
and he was very polite。 Mr。 Mavering said we ought to go up into the
gallery and see how it looked； and Mr。 Munt said he'd been up； and Mr。
Mavering promised to bring me back to him； but he was not there when we
got back。 Mr。 Mavering got me some ice cream first； and then he found
you for me。〃
〃Really；〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer to herself； 〃the combat thickens！〃 To her
daughter she said； 〃He's very handsome。〃
〃He laughs too much；〃 said the daughter。 Her mother recognised her
uncandour with a glance。 〃But he waltzes well；〃 added the girl。
〃Waltzes？〃 echoed the mother。 〃Did you waltz with him； Alice？〃
〃Everybody else was dancing。 He asked me for a turn or two； and of
course I did it。 What difference？〃
〃Oh； nonenone。 OnlyI didn't see you。〃
〃Perhaps you weren't looking。〃
〃Yes； I was looking all the time。〃
〃What do you mean； mamma？〃
〃Well；〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer； in a final despair； 〃we don't know anything
about them。〃
〃We're the only people here who don't； then；〃 said her daughter。 〃The
ladies were bowing right left to him all the time； and he kept asking
if I knew this one and that one； and all I could say was that some of
them were distant cousins； but I wasn't acquainted with them。 I would
think he'd wonder who we were。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the mother thoughtfully。
〃There！ he's laughing with that other student。 But don't look！〃
Mrs。 Pasmer saw well enough out of the corner of her eye the joking that
went on between Mavering and his friend； and it did not displease her to
think that it probably referred to Alice。 While the young man came
hurrying back to them she glanced at the girl standing near her with a
keenly critical inspection； from which she was able to exclude all
maternal partiality； and justly decided that she was one of the most
effective girls in the place。 That costume of hers was perfect。 Mrs。
Pasmer wished now that she could have compared it more carefully with
other costumes； she had noticed some very pretty ones； and a feeling of
vexation that Alice should have prevented this by being away so long just
when the crowd was densest qualified her satisfaction。 The people were
going very fast now。 The line of the oval in the nave was broken into
groups of lingering talkers； who were conspicuous to each other； and Mrs。
Pasmer felt that she and her daughter were conspicuous to all the rest
where they stood apart； with the two Maverings converging upon them from
different points； the son nodding and laughing to friends of both sexes
as he came； the father wholly absorbed in not spilling the glass of
claret punch which he carried in one hand； and not falling down on the
slippery floor with the plate of salad which he bore in the other。 She
had thoughts of feigning unconsciousness； she would have had no scruple
in practising this or any other social stratagem； for though she kept a
conscience in regard to certain matterswhat she considered essentials
she lived a thousand little lies every day； and taught her daughter by
precept and example to do the same。 You must seem to be looking one way
when you were really looking another； you must say this when you meant
that； you must act as if you were thinking one thing when you were
thinking something quite different； and all to no end； for； as she
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