Part of her triumph was of course due to Mrs. Saintsbury; whose chaperonage; Mrs. Pasmer could see, was everywhere of effect.  But it was also largely due to the vigilant politeness of young Mavering, who seemed bent on making her have good time, and who let no chance slip him.  Mrs. Pasmer felt his kindness truly; and she did not 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 to whom she was introduced spoke to her of her friends the Maverings, as if they were friends of the oldest standing instead of acquaintances of very recent accident.  She did not think of disclaiming the intimacy, but “Really I shall die of these Maverings,” she said to herself, “unless I find out something about them pretty soon.”

“I’m not going to take you to the Omicron spread, Mrs. Pasmer,” said young Mavering, coming up to her with such an effect of sympathetic devotion that she had to ask herself, “Are 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 fellows; and all that, but I want you to see the best.  I suppose it will get back to giving the spreads all in the fellows’ rooms again.  It’s a good deal pleasanter, don’t you think?”

“Oh yes, indeed,” assented Mrs. Pasmer, though she had really been thinking the private spreads were not nearly so amusing as the large spread she had seen at the Gymnasium.  She had also wondered where all Mr. Mavering’s relations and friends were, and the people who had social 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 to have no one to be taken from, of course it lessened his value as a trophy.  These things went in and out of her mind, with a final resolution to get a full explanation from Mrs. Saintsbury, while she stood and smiled her winning assent up into the young man’s handsome face.

Mrs. Saintsbury, caught sight of them, and as if suddenly reminded of a forgotten duty, rushed vividly upon him.

“Mr. Mavering, I shall not let you stay with us another minute.  You must go to your room now and get ready.  You ought to have a little rest.”

He broke out in his laugh.  “Do you think I want to go and lie down awhile, like a lady before a party?”

“I’m sure you’d be the stronger for it,” said Mrs. Saintsbury.  “But go, upon any theory.  Don’t you see there isn’t a Senior left?”

He would not look round.  “They’ve gone to other spreads,” he said.  “But now I’ll tell you:  it is pretty, near time, and if you’ll take me to my room, I’ll go.”