So next day, Lemoyne, deploying his natural graces and his dramatic
dexterities, drew away the curtain. He did not go so far as to say that
Bertram had been tricked; he did not even go so far as to say that he had
been inexpert: he contented himself with saying that his friend had been
over-chivalrous and that his fine nature had rather been played upon. The
mother took it all with a silent, inexpressive thoughtfulness, though it
was felt that she did not want her boy to be unhappy. Rosalys, if she
admired Lemoyne a little more, now liked him rather less. Her father, when
the declaration reached him by secondary impact, did feel the sense of
relief which Lemoyne had anticipated, and came to look upon him as an able,
if somewhat fantastic, young fellow.
Cope himself, when his father questioned him, said with frank
disconsolateness, "I'm miserable!" And, "I wish to heaven I were out of
it!" he added.
"_Get_ out of it," his father counselled; and when Cope's own feelings
were clearly known through the household there was no voice of dissent.
"And then buckle down for your degree," the elder added, to finish.
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