It was then arranged that the whole party should visit the University the next day and go through all the buildings on a tour of inspection.
When the visitors had gone, Electra suddenly inquired:
"Well, what do you think of the Californian?"
"I think him very handsome," said Laura, "but decidedly the most awkward man I ever saw in all the days of my life. Except in the matter of his awkwardness he seems to be a gentleman."
"Oh, that is nothing! One of the most distinguished men I ever met in my father's house—a gentleman by birth, education and position, a statesman of world-wide renown—was unquestionably the most awkward human being I ever saw in my life. He knew very well how to manage men and nations, but he never knew what to do with his feet and hands: he kept shuffling them about in the most nervous and distracting manner," said Emma Cavendish, in behalf of the stranger.
"Somehow or other that man's face haunts me like a ghost," mused Electra, dreamily.
"So it does me," quickly spoke Emma. "I feel sure that I have met those sad, wistful dark eyes somewhere before."
"I'll tell you both what. Whether you have ever met him before or not, he thinks he has seen you. He seemed to me to be trying to recollect where all the evening," said Laura Lytton, with her air of positiveness.
"Then that might account for his awkwardness and embarrassment," added Emma.
"But he is certainly very handsome," concluded Electra, as she took her candle to retire.