She remembered her purchases and Nora's disapproving eyes.

It would be better to go and beard her uncle at once.

But just as she approached the house, she became aware of a slenderly built man in flannels coming out of the gates of St.Cyprian's, the college of which the gate and outer court stood next door to the Hoopers.
He saw her, stopped with a start of pleasure, and came eagerly towards her.
"Lady Constance! Where have you sprung from?
Oh, I know--you are with the Hoopers! Have you been here long ?" They shook hands, and Constance obediently answered the newcomer's questions.

She seemed indeed to like answering them, and nothing could have been more courteous and kind than his manner of asking them.

He was clearly a senior man, a don, who, after a strenuous morning of lecturing, was hurrying--in the festal Eights week--to meet some friends on the river.