CHAPTER XX.
Commencement day!--a day of feverish anxiety and excitement to the young student, who is to step forth before the public eye, a candidate for the laurels of fame;--a day of weariness and stiffness to the dignified professors, obliged to sit hour after hour, listening to the florid eloquence whose luxuriance they have in vain attempted to prune, or trying to listen while the spirit yawns and stretches itself to its drowsy length;--a day of intense interest to the young maiden, who sees among the youthful band of aspirants one who is the "bright particular star" round which her pure and trembling hopes revolve.
It was a day of excitement to me, for every thing was novel, and therefore interesting.

It was the first time I had ever been in a dense crowd, and I felt the electric fluid, always collected where the great heart of humanity is throbbing, thrilling in my veins, and ready to flash at the master-stroke of eloquence.

I was dazzled by the brilliant display of beauty and fashion that lighted up the classic walls as with living sunbeams.

Such clusters of mimic blossoms and flowing ringlets wreathed together round fair, blooming faces; such a cloud of soft, airy drapery floating over lithe figures, swaying forward like light boughs agitated by the wind; such a fluttering of snowy fans, making the cool, pleasant sound of rain drops pattering among April leaves; such bright eager eyes, turned at every sounding step towards the open door,--I had never looked upon the like before.

I sat in a dream of delight, without thinking that it might be thought vulgar to _appear_ delighted, and still more to express undisguised admiration.
I dared not look to the platform, where the faculty and students were arranged in imposing ranks, for there was one pair of familiar, sparkling eyes, that were sure to beat mine back with their steadfast gaze.