Still, Carolyn
had, after all, the same right to attend as anyone else.
Medora and Basil Randolph added their congratulations to Carolyn's. Cope,
still in academic garb, performed the necessary introductions. His air was
eager, but cursory; smiling and ready, yet impersonal and cool; above all,
expeditious. If his parents passed on with the impression that Medora
Phillips and Basil Randolph were but casual acquaintances, worthy of
nothing beyond brief formalities, the blame was his own.
"I'm showing father and mother over the campus," he said, with an open
smile and a wave with his diploma, as he edged away.
The elders docilely took their cue, and moved away with him.
"Well," said Randolph, "there _are_ buildings, of course; and
fountains, and sun-dials, and memorial benches; but..."
"They add nothing to him," pronounced Medora, as she looked back on the
retiring party.
"Did you expect them to?" he asked. "Charm, like guilt, is personal.
Anyhow, there seems to be no brother," he added.
"Well, come, Carolyn," said Medora, to her returned secretary, who was
looking after the party too; "let's start for home.
Pages:
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352