He was very gracious to Mr. Sandys, who
regarded him much as he might have regarded the ghost of Isaiah, as
a spirit who visited the earth from some paradisiacal retreat, and
brought with him a fragrance of heaven. The thought of a Doctor of
Divinity, the Head of a College, full of academical learning, and
yet perfectly courteous and accessible, filled Mr. Sandys' cup of
romance to the brim. He seemed to be storing his memory with the
Master's words. The Master was delighted with Maud, and treated her
with a charming and indulgent gaiety, which Howard envied. He asked
her opinion, he deferred to her, he made her come and sit next to
him, he praised Jack and Howard, and at the end of the luncheon he
filled Mr. Sandys with an almost insupportable delight by saying
that the next time he could visit Cambridge he hoped he would stay
at the Lodge--"but not unless you will promise to bring Miss Sandys
as well--Miss Sandys is indispensable." Howard felt indeed grateful
to the gallant and civil old man, who had so clear an eye for what
was tender and beautiful. Even Jack, when the Master departed, was
forced to say that he did not know that the old man had so much
blood in him!
That night Mr. Sandys finished up his princely progress by dining
in Hall with the Fellows, and going to the Combination Room
afterwards. He was not voluble, as Howard had expected. He was
overcome with deference, and seized with a desire to bow in all
directions at the smallest civility.
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