Sandys bolted in like a rabbit into its hole.
Howard was alone with her.
She was very different, he thought, from what she had seemed that
first night. She was alert, smiling, delighted with everything and
everybody about the place. "I think it is all simply enchanting!"
she said; "only it makes me long to go to Newnham. I think men do
have a better time than women; and, what is more, no one here seems
to have anything whatever to do!"
"That's only our unselfishness," said Howard. "We get no credit!
Think of all the piles of papers that are accumulating on my table.
The other day I entertained with all the virtue and self-sacrifice
at my command a party of working-men from the East end of London at
luncheon in my rooms, and took them round afterwards. They knew far
more than I did about the place, and I cut a very poor figure. At
the end the Secretary, meaning to be very kind to me, said that he
was glad to have seen a glimpse of the cultured life. 'It is very
beautiful and distinguished,' he added, 'but we of the democracy
shall not allow it to continue. It is always said that the Dons
have nothing to do but to read and sip their wine, and I am glad to
see it all for myself. To think of all these endowments being used
like this! Not but what we are very grateful to you for your
kindness!'"
They strolled about. Cambridge is not a place that puts its
characteristic beauties in the forefront. Some of the most charming
things lurk unsuspected beyond dark entries and behind sombre
walls.
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