April Hopes

but for the present they could only fall upon each other with flashes of self-accusal and explanation, and rejoicing for their deferred and now accomplished meeting. The Professor stood by with

I didn't know what a perfect serpent's tooth it was to be one before. Mrs. Saints

oday. It would have been a shame if none of you were here." She made a feint of dropping her v

son my father's min

im," retorted the Professor's wife, "

abstract hospitality, apparently, for he was not one of the hosts; and so turned once more to Miss Pasmer. "We must get away

ere 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 an

he 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 t

d the girl, catching the spirit of his amiable s

ion-it's always good weather on Class Day. There haven't been more than a dozen bad Class Da

lass Day I've seen;" said the girl; and n

ded brilliancy; it will, if I can make it. Why, hallo! They're on the

rom his pocket, and waved it

it, and came hurrying

Mrs. Pasmer: "The Tree is to be at half-past five; and after we've see

seemed not to have anything to say immediately in support of it. He merely a

t yourself ready for the Tree," suggested th

ust fifteen min

eputable 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 the

bout the time," said the young m

came last in the little procession, with the elder

lled back, with his smili

ore than you can chew," the

ad almost missed the greeting of some ladies who bowed to him. He had to turn round to acknowledge

, but I assure you all this is purely accidental. I don't know so many

ry for," said the girl. "I wish we kn

duce some of the fellows t

forlorn I said I was," sa

arrested himself in the superfluous reassurance he was offering, "All that goes without sayi

ndeed, Mr. Mavering," sai

onged 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 u

speak to her daughter, and ignoring a remark of the P

he girl, with e

ut 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

y modest for me to say so, whatever I think. You'd bette

sor's wife candidly. "Your daughter," she added, in

g man. He looked at the girl; who blushed with a pleasure t

enial: "Do you think so really? It's one of those London things. They have

Saintsbury, "We used to come in muslins

otographs?" asked young Ma

know it then," said

supposed that there had never been anythin

tapping him between the shoulders wit

rst meeting here on Class

aintsbury patiently, with a playful

sor-it was his joking way, of describing her, as if there had been

the green any more, I h

nd I think it's just as well. It was alwa

lic," said young Mavering, in

ould ever have been in char

r. "And it seems as if we hadn't really begun to get w

his?" cried Mrs. Pasmer. "I didn't su

er him," cri

sider that a

's the first duty of a Professor of Co

stand," falter

t possible length," said Mrs. Saintsbury. "B

nd the public attitude of the American husband and wife toward each other is apt to be amiably satirical;

elder Mavering, which Mrs. Pasmer did her best to overhear, for it related largely to his so

as not put any troublesome ideas into his head. Of course he's very much interested in literature, from his point of

father, but in a tone which conveyed to Mrs. Pasmer the impression that though he