Randolph received Cope's response with gratification; it was pleasant to
feel oneself acceptable to a younger man. In the intervals between his
early looking at rugs and napery he collected timetables and folders, made
inquiries, and had some correspondence with the manager of the admirable
hotel. He had a fondness for well-kept hostelries just before or just after
the active season. It was a pleasure to breakfast or dine in some far
corner of a large and almost empty dining-room. It would be a pleasure to
stroll through those gorges, which would be reasonably certain to be free
from litter, and to perch on the crags, which would be reasonably certain
to be free from picnic parties. It would be agreeable also to sleep in a
chamber far from town noises and grimes, with few honks from late
excursionists and but little early morning clatter from a diminished staff.
And the river boats were still running on Sunday.
"It will brace him for the rest of his fall term," thought Randolph, "and
me for my confounded shopping. And during some one of our boat-rides or
rambles, I shall tell him of my plans for the winter.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163