New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
THE PROCTOR'S WOOING.
A TALE OF TWO CONTINENTS.

A TALE OF TWO CONTINENTS.
Twas positively blinded. could hardly read the
note n neatly written little square sheet of paper
and the words seemed to swim before my eyes 1t
was the very thick of summer term, and l, Cyril
Payne NJ A.. Senior Proctor of the University of
Oxford calmly asked to undertake the sole
charge for week of q wild American girl, travel
with her lust as foOlishly as had done at Nice.
There it lay before me- that awful note in its over
wheming cOncsenesS without hope of respite
interference 1t was simply crushing.
MY dear Mr. Payne.-I am coming to Oxford, as
advised m shall a1 s so or fo by sne
dolph. l hope you will kindly show me all the
lions. Yours very sincerely,
IDA VAN RENSSELAER,
1t was dated Tuesday, and this was Wednesday
morning. i hadn't opened my letters before seeing
last nights charges at o'clock and 1t was
inst TO- In moment the fSdl terror of the situa
already almost here there was no possibility of
telegraphing to stop her; before 1 could do any
thing, she would have arrived. have taken rooms
at the Randolph, and have come round i'll her queer
American manner to call upon me. There was not
a mUment to be lost. l must rush down TO the
station and meet her--in full academcals velvet
sleeves and ALL for Proctor must never be seen in
the morning in multi If there had been half an
hour more, could have driven round by the parks
and called for my sister Anri3. who was married to
the Rev Theophilus Sheepshanks. Professor of
Comparative Osteology and Who might have helped
out of the scrape. But things stood, was
compelled to burst down the High lust as | was.
hail a hanson opposite Queens and drive turiously
to the station in bare time to meet the 1918 tain.
At all hazards Ida Van Rensselaer, must not 90 to
the Randolph and must be carried off to Annie's,
whether she would or not On the way down. had
time TO arrange my plan of action and before
reached the station, Thought saw my way dimly
out of the awful scrape which this mad Yankee girl
had so nconsiderately got me into
| had met Ida Van Rensselaer, the winter before
at Nice. We stopped together ut "A pension on tho
Promenade DIES Anglas; and as was away from
OXford-for even a Proctor must unbend sometimes
and as she pleasant, lively young person with
remarkably fine eyes, travelling by herself, had
taken the trouble to instruct her in European
scenery and European art. She had a fancy for
being original, so | took her to EZa Rocca-
bruna' and ST. Pons' and all the other queer picur
esque little places in the Nice district which no
American had ever dTeamt of going before
and when Ida went on to Florence, happened
quite accidentally OF courseto turn up at the very
same pension three days later, whore gave her
further lessons i'll the art of admirng the early
medieval masters and the other treasures of Giottos
city. / was bit of collector myself, and in my
rooms at Magdalen 1latter myself that have got
the only genuine BOtticelli in private collec-
ton IN England. In spite of her untamed American
savagery Ida had certain taste for these things,
she had had of that real interior Europe whose
culture she had no. previously suspected. 1t is
pleasant to teach pretty pupil and i'm the i'm
OF a weak mOment-it was in "A gOndola at Venice
i even told her that she should not leave for
America without having seen oxford. OF course
fancied nat she would bring a chapcron. Now she
had taken me at my WORD, hut she had come alone.
had brought it all upon myself, undoubtedly;
i could not imagine.
AS l reached the station. the 1915 was just com
ing in. | cast wild glaI right and left. and
at least dozen undergraduates, without cap or
gown, lettering ON the platform in obvious dsre-
proctOrise them, and was terribly conscious that
all their eyes were fixed upon me, as | NOV ed up
and down the carriages looking for my American
friend: She caught my eye III moment, pcerng
out of a second-class wIndow-shc had told me
that she was not well Oft and thought should
have sunk in the ground when she jumped lightly
cut, seized my hand warmly, and cried out quite
audibly, in her pretty family American voice, My
dear Mr; Payne, am so glad you've come to meet
me. VIII YOU see after my baggage-nO. luggage,
you call it in England, don't you land get it sent
up TO the Randolph, please, at oncep
was ever Proctor tried this earth = But |
made an effort to smile it Oft My sister is so sorry
she could not come to meet you Miss Van Rens-
selaer, said in ny loudest voice. for | saw all
those twelve sinister undergraduates watching
afar off with career curiosity but she has sent me
down to carry you OFF in her stead and she begs YOU
won't think of going to the Randolph bat will
come and make her house your home as long as you
stay in Oxford / fattered myself that the twelve
odious young men, who were now forming n sort of
irregular circle around us, would be completely
earth Annie would say at being saddlcd with this
Yankee girl for a week hardly dared to fancy.
For Annie was Professors wife and the dignity
OF Professors wife is amost as serious matter
that of a Senior Proctor himself.
with her frank smile and sunny Woicn 20,
sister! | didn't know you had q sister. And any,
self. And I'd better go to the Randolph straight
Pm sure because l shall feel more at home there
You can come round and see me whenever you like
there; and mean you to show me all Oxford, now
I've come here, that's certain
glanced furtively at the open-eared undergradu-
ates and felt that the game was really up. ! could
never face them again. | must resign everything
take orders, and fly to n country rectory At least
thought so on the spur of The moment
But something must clearly be done. I couldn't
stand and argue out the case with Ida before those
twelve young hends, now reinforced by a group of
porters; and determined to act strategicallythat
Is TO say tell a white lie. You can 90 to the Ran
q0lph, OF course II you wish, Miss Van Rensselaer,
! SAID; VIII you come and show me which is your
iuggageg Here, You SIR to one Of the porers-a
iltte angrny, fear come and get this ladVs
boxes, will your
In minute, ] had secured the boxes and went
our lor cab. There was nothing left but single
Ida inside. Drive to LechIade Villa, the Parks
whispered to the cabby-that was Annie's address
and jumped in beside my torturcr AS we drove
up bg the CornmaTket. could see the porters and
scouts OF Ballio and Johns all looking eagerly ont
at the unwonted sight of Senior Proctor in full
academlcals driving through the streets of Oxford
IN hanson cab, with IA lady by his side. As for
Ida, she renamed happily unconscious, though |
blamed her none the less or It, In her native wilds
knew that such vagaries permitted by the
rules OF society; but she ought surely to have
known that i'll Europe they not admissible.
Now, Miss Van Rensselaer, | said, as turned
sisters Excuse my frankness if | tell you that
according TO English. and especially to Oxford
etiquette, it would never do for you to 20 TO a
hotel. Peoples sense of decOrum Would be scandal
lied if they learnt that lady had come alone to
VISIT the Senior Proctor. and was stopping at the
ihahdoiph. Don't you see yourself how very odd it
Well, no. sand Ida promptly; Il think you are
useadfuily suspicious people: you seem always to
credit everybody with the worst motives In
america, we think people mean no harm, and don't
can't go To your sisters | don't know her, and /
haven't been invited. Does she know Pm coming
4. Well, cant say she does answered hesta-
tingly You see your letter only reached me half
went to meet YOU
Then certainly won't go, Mr. Payne. that's
But my dear Miss Van Rensselaer,
b MOI the slightest use, assure you can't go to