April Hopes

ued elegance befitting the more private hospitalities in the students' rooms. Mrs. Pasmer was very much interested in these rooms, whose luxurio

r the chimney, and the mantel with its pipes, and its photographs of theatrical celebrities tilted about over it-spoke of conditions mostly foreign to Mrs. Pasmer's memories of Harvard. The photographed celebrities seemed to be chosen chiefly for their beauty, and for as much of their beauty as possible, Mrs. Pasmer perceived, with an obscure

of admiration. She could hear her talk sometimes, and she said to herself that really Alice was coming out; she had never heard her say so many good things before; she did not know it was in her. She was very glad then that she had let her wear that dress; it was certainly distinguished, and the girl carried it off, to her mother's amusem

feel it the less because she knew that there was but one thing that could, at his frankly selfish age, make a young fellow wish to make a girl have a good time; except for that reason he must be bending the whole soul of egotistic youth to making some other girl have a good time. But all the same, it gave her pause when some one

e they my friends, the Maverings?" "The Saintsburys have been there already, and it is a little too common." The tone of superiority gave Mrs. Pasmer courage. "They're good fello

ocial claims on him, that he could be giving up his Class Day in this reckless fashion to strangers. Alice would account for a good deal, but she would not account for everything. Mrs. Pasmer would have been willing to take him from others, but if he were so anomalous as t

, and as if suddenly reminded of a fo

another minute. You must go to your room now a

think I want to go and lie down a

id Mrs. Saintsbury. "But go, upon any theor

ds," he said. "But now I'll tell you: it is pretty, n

ed boy," said M

of a real student-a reading man, and a

any theory," sa

ght of her, were at hand, and they crossed to that old hall which keeps its favour with

anklin 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

supposed to be the cell of a

," said her husband; for there were odds and ends of furnitur

ughing out his delight. "They belong to some fellows that are

ings in your room that they want t

en I'm expect

pressed the matter," said Mrs. Saints

g. I'm sure you let people impose upon you," said the

ves you're all wr

know how to say th

me, and I do my best to enjoy it." He ended with

lice. Some of his teeth are filled at the sides. That vein in his forehead-they say that means genius." She sai

happy to think you hadn't been bored with it al

ing it and apparently listening to what Professor Saintsbury was saying; but her mother believed from a tremor o

e were to turn round just as she stands, he could see all the best points of her face. I

n the way her mother wished that Mrs. Pasmer could scar

ch inattentively. "How very, very good!" she buzzed deep in her throat, while, with a glance at her daughter, she thought, "How impas

revented," he answe

rs. Pasmer. "Does Alice dislike it so much?"

spoil a great lawy

l that she was talking nonsense, but she was aware, through her own indifference to the topic that he was not minding what s

s she think he's a little too pushing? Perhaps, he is a little pushing." She reflected,

said it was pretty rough to think this was the last of it. Aft

to dress for the Tree. John"-she reproach

her people's houses-especially ladies who ha

leaded Mavering; "th

e?" asked Mrs

tch. "Well, a good

little rest before the Tree!" cried Mrs Saintsbury. "And n

ladies, and only his father and Alice were silent: his guests got themselves out of his room. They met at the threshold a young

Mr. Bo

vering called out. "Come in and show t

rce self-possession, and then said, "You'll have to look i

Are the

for the answer, which was lost in the incoherencies o