The hall was crowded to overflowing. Not only was every form filled, but chairs had to be set in the space between the audience and the orchestra, and also in the middle and side aisles, to accommodate ladies who could not otherwise be seated; while every foot of standing room was occupied by gentlemen.
Mr. Lyle had given up his seat next to Laura Lytton in favor of a lady, and had explained to his party that he had a friend from San Francisco who was present and with whom he could stand up.
And he went away and took up his position in a corner below the platform, beside Victor Hartman, but entirely out of the range of his party's vision.
I will not weary my readers with any detailed account of this Commencement, which resembled all other college commencements in being most interesting to those most concerned.
There was an overture from a new opera.
Then there was an opening oration by one of the learned professors of the University, which was voted by the savants to be a masterpiece of erudition and eloquence, but which the young people present found intolerably dull and stupid. And when the great man sat down a storm of applause followed him.
Then ensued the usual alternation of opera music and orations.
And the young people listened to the opera music, and yawned behind their fans over the orations.
And the savants gave heed to the orations, and closed their senses, if not their ears, to the music.
At length the time for the distribution of the diplomas arrived, and the names of the successful graduates were called out, and each in turn went up to receive his diploma and make the customary deep bow, first to the faculty and then to the audience.