did not seem to her that the Franklin stove and the aesthetic papering
and painting of young Mavering's room brought it up to the level of those
others that she had seen。 But with her habit of saying some friendly
lying thing； no matter what her impressions were； she exclaimed； 〃Oh； how
cosy！〃 and glad of the word； she went about from one to another； asking；
〃Isn't this cosy？〃
Mrs。 Saintsbury said： 〃It's supposed to be the cell of a recluse； but it
is cosyyes。〃
〃It looks as if some hermit had been using it as a store…room；〃 said her
husband； for there were odds and ends of furniture and clothes and boxes
and handbags scattered about the floor。
〃I forgot all about them when I asked you；〃 cried Mavering； laughing out
his delight。 〃They belong to some fellows that are giving spreads in
their rooms； and I let them put them in here。〃
〃Do you commonly let people put things in your room that they want to get
rid off？〃 asked Mrs。 Pasmer。
〃Well； not when I'm expecting company。〃
〃He couldn't refuse even then； if they pressed the matter；〃 said Mrs。
Saintsbury； lecturing upon him to her friend。
〃I'm afraid you're too amiable altogether； Mr。 Mavering。 I'm sure you
let people impose upon you；〃 said the other lady。 〃You have been letting
us impose upon you。〃
〃Ah！ now that proves you're all wrong； Mrs。 Pasmer。〃
〃It proves that you know how to say things very prettily。〃
〃Oh； thank you。 I know when I'm having a good time； and I do my best to
enjoy it。〃 He ended with the nervous laugh which seemed habitual with
him。
〃He； does laugh a good deal；〃 thought Mrs。 Pasmer； surveying him with
smiling steadiness。 〃I suppose it tires Alice。 Some of his teeth are
filled at the sides。 That vein in his foreheadthey say that means
genius。〃 She said to him： 〃I hope you know when others are having a good
time too； Mr。 Mavering？ You ought to have that reward。〃
They both looked at Alice。 〃Oh； I should be so happy to think you hadn't
been bored with it all； Mrs： Pasmer；〃 he returned；with…deep feeling。
Alice was looking at one of the sketches which were pretty plentifully
pinned about the wall； and apparently seeing it and apparently listening
to what Professor Saintsbury was saying； but her mother believed from a
tremor of the ribbons on her hat that she was conscious of nothing but
young Mavering's gaze and the sound of his voice。
〃We've been delighted； simply enchanted；〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer。 And she
thought； 〃Now if Alice were to turn round just as she stands； he could
see all the best points of her face。 I wonder what she really thinks of
him？ What is it you have there； Alice？〃 she asked aloud。
The girl turned her face over her shoulder so exactly in the way her
mother wished that Mrs。 Pasmer could scarcely repress a cry of joy。 〃A
sketch of Mr。 Mavering's。〃
〃Oh； how very interesting！〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃Do you sketch； Mr。
Mavering？ But of course。〃 She pressed forward； and studied the sketch
inattentively。 〃How very； very good！〃 she buzzed deep in her throat；
while； with a glance at her daughter； she thought； 〃How impassive Alice
is！ But she behaves with great dignity。 Yes。 Perhaps that's best。
And are you going to be an artist？〃 she asked of Mavering。
〃Not if it can be prevented；〃 he answered； laughing again。
〃But his laugh is very pleasant；〃 reflected Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃Does Alice
dislike it so much？〃 She repeated aloud； 〃If it can be prevented？〃
〃They think I might spoil a great lawyer in the attempt。〃
〃Oh； I see。 And are you going to be a lawyer？ But to be a great
painter！ And America has so few of them。〃 She knew quite well that she
was talking nonsense； but she was aware； through her own indifference to
the topic that he was not minding what she said； but was trying to bring
himself into talk with Alice again。 The girl persistently listened to
Professor Saintsbury。
〃Is she punishing him for something？〃 her mother asked herself。 〃What
can it be for。 Does she think he's a little too pushing？ Perhaps； he is
a little pushing。〃 She reflected； with an inward sigh； that she would
know whether he was if she only knew more about him。
He did the honours of his room very simply and nicely； and he said it was
pretty rough to think this was the last of it。 After which he faltered；
and something occurred to Mrs Saintsbury。
〃Why； we're keeping you！ It's time for you to dress for the Tree。
John〃she reproached her husband〃how could you let us do it？〃
〃Far be it from me to hurry ladies out of other people's houses
especially ladies who have put themselves in charge of other people。〃
〃No； don't hurry；〃 pleaded Mavering； 〃there's plenty of time。〃
〃How much time？〃 asked Mrs。 Saintsbury。
He looked at his watch。 〃Well； a good quarter of an hour。〃
〃And I was to have taken Mrs。 Pasmer and Alice home for a little rest
before the Tree！〃 cried Mrs Saintsbury。 And now we must go at once； or
we shall get no sort of places；〃
In the civil and satirical parley which followed； no one answered
another； but young Mavering bore as full a part as the elder ladies； and
only his father and Alice were silent： his guests got themselves out of
his room。 They met at the threshold a young fellow； short and dark and
stout； in an old tennis suit。 He fell back at sight of them； and took
off his hat to Mrs。 Saintsbury。
〃Why； Mr。 Boardman！〃
〃Don't be bashful； Boardman？〃 young Mavering called out。 〃Come in and
show them how I shall look in five minutes。〃
Mr。 Boardman took his introductions with a sort of main…force self…
possession； and then said； 〃You'll have to look it in less than five
minutes now； Mavering。 You're come for。〃
〃What？ Are they ready？〃
〃We must fly；〃 panted Mrs。 Saintsbury； without waiting for the answer；
which was lost in the incoherencies of all sorts of au revoirs called
after and called back。
VII。
〃That is one thing；〃 said Mrs。 Saintsbury； looking swiftly round to see
that the elder Mavering was not within hearing； as she hurried ahead with
Mrs。 Pasmer； 〃that I can't stand in Dan Mavering。 Why couldn't he have
warned us that it was getting near the time？ Why should he have gone on
pretending that there was no hurry？ It isn't insincerity exactly； but it
isn't candour； no； it's uncandid。 Oh； I suppose it's the artistic
temperamentnever coming straight to the point。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mrs。 Pasmer eagerly。
〃I'll tell you sometime。〃 She looked round and halted a little for
Alice； who was walking detached and neglected by the preoccupation of the
two elderly men。 〃I'm afraid you're tired；〃 she said to the girl。
〃Oh no。〃
〃Of course not； on Class Day。 But I hope we shall get seats。 What
weather！〃
The sun had not been oppressive at any time during the day； though the
crowded building had been close and warm； and now it lay like a painted
light on the grass and paths over which they passed to the entrance of
the grounds around the Tree。 Holden Chapel； which enclosed the space on
the right as they went in； shed back the sun from its brick…red flank；
rising unrelieved in its venerable ugliness by any touch of the festive
preparations； but to their left and diagonally across from them high
stagings supported tiers of seats along the equally unlovely red bulks of
Hollis and of Harvard。 These seats； and the windows in the stories above
them； were densely packed with people； mostly young girls dressed in a
thousand enchanting shades and colours； and bonneted and hatted to the
last effect of fashion。 They were like vast terraces of flowers to the
swift glance； and here and there some brilliant parasol； spread to catch
the sun on the higher ranks； was like a flaunting poppy； rising to the
light and lolling out above the blooms of lower stature。 But the
parasols were few； for the two halls flung wide curtains of shade over
the greater part of the spectators； and across to the foot of the chapel；
while a piece of the carpentry whose simplicity seems part of the Class
Day tradition shut out the glare and the uninvited public； striving to
penetrate the enclosure next the street。 In front of this yellow pine
wall； with its ranks of benches； stood the Class Day Tree； girded at ten
or fifteen feet from the ground with a wide band of flowers。
Mrs。 Pasmer and her friends found themselves so late that if some
gentlemen who knew Professor Saintsbury had not given up their places
they could have got no seats。 But this happened； and the three ladies
had harmoniously blended their hues with those of the others in that bank
of bloom； and the gentlemen had somehow made away with their
obstructiveness in different crouching and stooping postures at their
feet； when the Junior Class filed into the green enclosure amidst the
'rahs of their friends； and sank in long ranks on the grass beside the
chapel。 Then the Sophomores appeared； and were received with cheers by
the Juniors； with whom they joined； as soon as they were placed； in
heaping ignominy upon the freshmen。 The Seniors came last； grotesque in
the variety of their old clothes； and a fierce uproar of 'rahs and yells
met them from the students squatted upon the grass as they loosely
grouped themselves in front of the Tree； the men of the younger classes
formed in three rings； and began circling in different directions around
them。
Mrs。 Pasmer bent across Mrs。 Saintsbury to her daughter： 〃Can you make
out Mr。 Mavering among them； Alice？〃
〃No。 Hush； mamma！〃 pleaded the girl。
With the subsidence of the tumult in the other classes； the Seniors had
broken from the stoical silence they kept through it； and were now with
an equally serious clamour applauding the first of a long list of
personages； beginning with the President； and ranging through their
favourites in the Faculty down to Billy the Postman。 The leader who
invited them to this expression of good feeling exacted the full tale of
nine cheers for each person he named； and before he reached the last the
'rahs came in gasps from their dry throats。
In the midst of the tumult the marshal flung his hat at the elm； then the
rush upon the tree took place； and the scramble for the flowers。 The
first who swarmed up the tru