to leave us very soon to get yourself ready for the
Tree," suggested the Professor's lady, with a motherly prevision.

"I shall want just fifteen minutes for that."

"I know, better, Mr. Mavering," said Mrs. Saintsbury, with finality.
"You will want a good three-quarters of an hour to make yourself as
disreputable 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
then we shall part inexorably. I've seen a great many more Class Days
than you have, and I know what they are in their demands upon the
Seniors."

"Oh; well! Then we won't think about the time," said the young man,
starting on with Miss Pasmer.

"Well, don't undertake too much," said the lady. She came last in the
little procession, with the elder Mavering, and her husband and Mrs
Pasmer preceded her.

"What?" young Mavering called back, with his smiling face over his
shoulder.

"She says not to bite off more than you can chew," the professor
answered for her.

Mavering broke into a conscious laugh, but full of delight, and with his
handkerchief to his face had almost missed the greeting of some ladies
who bowed to him. He had to turn round to acknowledge it, and he was
saluting and returning salutations pretty well all along the line of
their progress.

"I'm afraid you'll think I'm everybody's friend but my own, Miss Pasmer,
but I assure you all this is purely accidental. I don't know so
many people, after all; only all that I do know seem to be here this
morning."

"I don't think it's a thing to be sorry for," said the girl. "I wish we
knew more people. It's rather forlorn--"

"Oh, will you let me introduce some of the fellows to you? They'll be so
glad."

"If you'll tell them how forlorn I said I was," said the girl, with a
smile.

"Oh, no, no, no! I understand that. And I assure you that I didn't
suppose--But of course!" he arrested himself in the superfluous
reassurance he was offering, "All that goes without saying. Only there
are some of the fellows coming back to the law school, and if you'll
allow me--"

"We shall be very happy indeed, Mr. Mavering," said Mrs. Pasmer, behind
him.

"Oh, thank you ever so much, Mrs. Pasmer." This was occasion for another
burst of laughter with him. He seemed filled with the intoxication of
youth, whose spirit was in the bright air of the day and radiant in the
young faces everywhere. The paths intersecting one another bet