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diff --git a/old/52875-h/52875-h.htm b/old/52875-h/52875-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index b7c0d3d..0000000 --- a/old/52875-h/52875-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5451 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Red Paint at Oxford, by “Pish” and “Tush”. - </title> - - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - -<style type="text/css"> - -a { - text-decoration: none; -} - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -hr { - width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: 0.5em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -table { - margin: 1em auto 1em auto; -} - -td { - padding: 0em 0.25em 0em 0.25em; - vertical-align: top; -} - -.blockquote { - margin: 2em auto 2em auto; - max-width: 40em; -} - -.bracket { - font-size: 300%; -} - -.bracket-compensation { - position: relative; - top: -0.6em; -} - -.center { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.indent4 { - margin-left: 4em; -} - -.larger { - font-size: 150%; -} - -.noindent { - text-indent: 0; -} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - right: 4%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; -} - -.poetry-container { - text-align: center; - margin: 1em; -} - -.poetry { - display: inline-block; - text-align: left; -} - -.poetry .verse { - text-indent: -3em; - padding-left: 3em; -} - -.right { - text-align: right; -} - -.smaller { - font-size: 80%; -} - -.smcap { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; -} - -.smcapuc { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; - text-transform: lowercase; -} - -.tdc { - text-align: center; -} - -.tdr { - text-align: right; - white-space: nowrap; -} - -.titlepage { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 3em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.valign { - white-space: nowrap; - vertical-align: middle; -} - -@media handheld { - -.poetry { - display: block; - margin-left: 1.5em; -} - -.blockquote { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 5%; -} -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Red Paint at Oxford, by Anonymous (AKA Pish and Tush) - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Red Paint at Oxford - Sketches - -Author: Anonymous (AKA Pish and Tush) - -Release Date: August 22, 2016 [EBook #52875] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RED PAINT AT OXFORD *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<p class="titlepage larger">RED PAINT AT<br /> -OXFORD</p> - -<p class="titlepage">Sketches</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">BY</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">“Pish” and “Tush”</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage">London<br /> -GREENING & CO., LTD.<br /> -20 CECIL COURT, CHARING CROSS ROAD<br /> -1904</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2>PREFACE.</h2> - -<p>These little sketches must not be taken too seriously, and it -must not be imagined that they describe the most prominent -characteristics of the good sportsmen portrayed in them. We -have only turned our attention to the lightest side of their -’Varsity careers because we think that the most amusing; but -nearly every one of the Undergrads referred to has distinguished -himself in some less lurid but more useful way. Five ‘Blues’ -altogether have been amassed among the gentlemen who move -about and have their being herein; while the Pilot upset the -odds of 33 to 1 freely laid against him, scraped through on the -rails with a rush at the finish, and secured a creditable ‘First.’ -When he is Archbishop of Canterbury, Freddy hopes to be in -the Cabinet, and, it appears already during the short year that -has elapsed since we all ‘went down,’ that Squiff is well on his -way to ruling a Province in India. Who knows whether he and -the Pilot, in alliance, may not yet be the means of converting -that most hearty blot of Ink the Rajah of Jellipore!</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcapuc">ONE AUTHOR.</span></p> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcapuc">THE OTHER.</span></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>May, 1904</i>.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"></td><td class="tdr smaller">PAGE.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#I">I.</a></td><td>ON MOTORING TO TOWN</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#II">II.</a></td><td>A QUIET EVENING</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#III">III.</a></td><td>CONCERNING THE THEATRE</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#IV">IV.</a></td><td>THE MUTUAL HELP SOCIETY</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#V">V.</a></td><td>ON THE STRENUOUSNESS OF LIFE</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#VI">VI.</a></td><td>RUGGER NIGHT</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#VII">VII.</a></td><td>HOW WE RAGGED “THE SUBURBAN”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a></td><td>AN “EIGHTS’ WEEK”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> - -<h1>RED PAINT AT OXFORD.</h1> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="I">I.<br /> -<span class="smaller">ON MOTORING TO TOWN.</span></h2> - -<p>Freddy said it was very cheap, and so I went, having -only seven and sixpence, which I had borrowed from -our landlady.</p> - -<p>Freddy had less.</p> - -<p>Soon after eight I was aroused by Freddy’s acrobatic -treble and the shrieks of an impossible check suit.</p> - -<p>He mentioned that he was coming to breakfast with -me as the men in his digs never came down till ten.</p> - -<p>Just then the Pilot announced in a loud and penetrating -voice that ‘a perspiring stinkocar had arrived -outside’ and so I hastened on my dressing to the accompaniment -of ‘The Miller’s Daughter,’ played by Freddy -with one finger and the loud pedal down.</p> - -<p>In the middle of the second kidney there was a loud -report from the street, and Mrs. MacNab, whose cat -consumes an abnormal quantity of our whisky, rushed -into the room exclaiming that ‘the Chuffer had brought -round the hengine.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> - -<p>Hastily rising I ran down into the street and found -a pair of legs performing strange antics on the kerbstone, -while their owner’s head appeared to be in the -petrol tank, at least a voice from that direction declared -‘the whole of the —— —— petrol has gone and (adjectived) -itself away.’</p> - -<p>This edifying remark was accompanied by a series of -alarming though apparently harmless reports which did -not in the least affect the equanimity of the person under -the car.</p> - -<p>By this time Freddy, having consumed ‘kidneys and -bacon for three,’ appeared in the doorway, disguised in -a mangy fur coat and a pair of hideous black goggles.</p> - -<p>He straightway proceeded to haul the unknown out -of the petrol tank by his legs, at the same time enquiring -with unnecessary heat ‘Why they had not pumped that -mess in at the shop?’</p> - -<p>To which query the Chauffeur replied that ‘They never -did nothink at the shop.’</p> - -<p>This answer appeared to satisfy Frederick, who -boarded the smell-cart without further parley, and, -having seated the Chauffeur behind, pounced upon a -sort of lever arrangement, whereupon the car gave two -awesome leaps, I jumped aboard, and we found ourselves -at some distance from the house.</p> - -<p>The Pilot, who appeared in a dressing-gown at the -top window, bestowed a pantomimic blessing on us as -we shot away, followed by the ironical cheers of two -small boys and the Swithin’s Hall man from next door,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> -who had kept an early chapel and was accordingly most -obnoxious.</p> - -<p>We had scarcely passed Magdalen when Freddy informed -me in a hurried gasp that we were bound for -London, which communication constrained me to remind -him that our joint capital only amounted to thirteen and -six, but he merely muttered something unprintable and -put on full speed.</p> - -<p>We narrowly missed a milkman in Iffley Road and an -early bicyclist only just escaped an equally early death.</p> - -<p>It was at this point that P.C. Robert Swiller hove in -sight; we only noticed a red and angry face but failed -to catch his remarks, which, to judge from the way he -stamped on the pavement, must have been of a forcible -nature.</p> - -<p>I think that after this I must have dozed—the Swithin’s -Hall man plays till 1.30 a.m.—for the next thing I remember -was a violent concussion which threw a heavy -oil-can on to my foot and the Chauffeur into the ditch.</p> - -<p>Freddy, whose ordinary conversation is sprinkled with -epithets that do not bear repetition, referred to the ancient -rustic whose hay-cart we had shattered, as ‘a d—d -old crawler,’ and added insult to injury by enquiring why -his rotten hearse was in the middle of the road.</p> - -<p>On the yokel pointing out that our car was in fact in -that position, and that his cart was almost in the ditch, -Freddy repeated his former statement and seemed to -think that that closed the discussion. Not so the rustic, -who showed an aggressive desire for compensation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> -which was only appeased by Freddy generously presenting -him with my card and remarking that I would -see he was paid.</p> - -<p>After a short inspection of the ruins we proceeded, -and no further incident occurred until we reached -Maidenhead, where we bagged a chicken and a small -spaniel. Freddy declared that their loss would not be -felt and we went straight ahead.</p> - -<p>In the next village, Freddy, who resembles a blotting-pad -in his capacity for absorbing liquid, stopped abruptly -before the ‘Sow and Scissors’ for a reviver.</p> - -<p>After this operation, I, mindful of our victims at -Maidenhead, firmly declined to mount the car again -unless Freddy gave up the steering wheel to the Chauffeur; -this he did, and we soon reached Slough.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards we entered the village of Little -Pudley at thirty miles an hour, marking our passage -by a slight entanglement with the village pump; however -Freddy succeeded in jerking off the handle before -it caught him in the wind, and so no harm was done -beyond leaving a portion of our splash-board in the -well. The calm of our progress through Hounslow and -Chiswick was unbroken, and I was wiping the dust from -my eyes preparatory to a gentle snooze, when without -any warning except a violent shock, which threw my -hat into the neighbouring gutter, the car stopped -abruptly; and although we tried each of the handles -in turn and subsequently all together, the sparrow-starver -remained motionless.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> - -<p>Frederick then spoke.</p> - -<p>When the air had cleared we discovered that the -Chauffeur was again seeking the seclusion of his beloved -petrol tank, but reappeared with astonishing -rapidity just in time to avoid a shower of greasy black -liquid which spread itself about the pavement.</p> - -<p>Freddy shrieked ‘jump,’ and we jumped.</p> - -<p>Immediately afterwards the car, groaning hideously, -made with fearful speed for a saddler’s shop, and was -only prevented from entering by an opportune collision -with a lamp-post. This appeared to annoy the death-trap, -for it blew out its bonnet and then reclined peacefully -against a metropolitan water-trough, from which -all efforts to move it were unavailing.</p> - -<p>After a hasty palaver we consigned the dam-thing -to the Chauffeur and made for the Shepherd’s Bush -Tube. We journeyed as far as Notting Hill Gate, and -there Freddy, having borrowed my few remaining -shillings, left me and went in search of his female -cousin. This compelled me to lunch with one Timmins, -a man of the Inner Temple, honoured by my -acquaintance, but as he had had no warning of my -arrival I was obliged to make the best of two old -chicken legs and some rather older Gorgonzola, and -after borrowing a couple of sovereigns from him, I -treated him to a theatre. On crossing Piccadilly, after -the performance, we were surprised to see Freddy -engaged in altercation with a cabman in front of the -Criterion. We crossed over to speak to him and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -guileless one seized the opportunity to borrow half a -sovereign from Timmins, whose purse and patience -are inexhaustible. Then having disposed of the quarrelsome -Jehu we decided to take the Templar to dinner -at the Cabanero, which invitation he readily accepted, -possibly with the idea of getting some return for his -money.</p> - -<p>To fill up the time Timmins suggested the Aquarium, -a place that both Freddy and I detest, but as we had -borrowed about fifty shillings from the unfortunate -man, we felt that this was the moment for a graceful -concession.</p> - -<p>On our arrival we let Timmins out of the hansom -first, but in spite of this subtle move I was compelled -to pay the cabby, and then firmly resisting an impassioned -appeal from a golden-haired lady in the entrance -to give her a bracelet or something else, we passed the -turnstiles and made with one accord for the nearest bar.</p> - -<p>I am unable to state the precise number of cherry -brandies that Freddy had consumed during his absence -from my care, but his lady cousin appeared to have had -a distinctly exhilarating effect upon him. At any rate -after two lagers had been followed by a sherry and -bitters, he manifested a desire to dance, which was -only suppressed by the advent of a uniformed attendant -with a Bow-Street-and-seven-shillings-or-three-days -glitter in his eye. The small sum of half-a-crown -mollified this dignitary, a view of whose face was—as -Freddy remarked—cheap at the price.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then, while Freddy and I were watching a lady in -scanty costume who was advertised to dive from the -roof into a six-foot tank, Timmins disappeared. After -forty minutes’ diligent searching, which involved on -Freddy’s part a frivolous conversation with the young -lady at the assorted jewellery stall, we came upon the -wanderer.</p> - -<p>He was seated in the centre of the crystal maze and -a strong odour of patchouli, exchanging vows of undying -affection with a lady of a certain age and uncertain -character.</p> - -<p>The cab, in which we then set out for the Cabanero, -cost me another half-crown, and the dinner which followed -took nearly all our remaining bullion.</p> - -<p>However it was a great success.</p> - -<p>Towards the end Freddy expressed a violent antipathy -to the colour of the Turkish gentleman who served us -with coffee, and was only quieted by the strains of the -‘Girl from Kays’ from the orchestra.</p> - -<p>Dinner over, we were going downstairs, when Freddy, -who appeared unable to find the bannisters, grasped the -hand of an ancient and enamelled dowager who was -laboriously ascending, and, greeting her effusively, enquired -‘if her mother knew she was out.’ Leaving the -venerable relic speechless and perspiring, we saved ourselves -from rough treatment at the hands of the attendants -by bolting hatless into Piccadilly Circus, and here -we saw the last of Timmins.</p> - -<p>He leant into our cab, and after explaining pathetically<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -that he had no money to pay his washing bill and -that he had pawned his mother’s photograph, propped -himself wearily against the railings and took no further -interest in the proceedings.</p> - -<p>Our arrival at Paddington a few minutes after nine -was marked by wild cheers on Freddy’s part and the -disbursement of my last eighteenpence. A short interview -with the station-master resulted in the exchange -of my card for two third singles to Oxford, and a final -shilling’s worth at the expense of Blandford, who was -returning from the funeral of an imaginary aunt, filled -up the time till the train left.</p> - -<p>After a few minutes’ travelling Freddy remarked that -he would feel more comfortable in the rack, and proceeded -to climb up there. A little later we covered -him with a seat cushion as he felt cold, and all slept -peacefully till Didcot.</p> - -<p>When we reached the draughty junction Blandford -and I left Freddy, who appeared to be asleep, in search -of lip-salve; but we had barely reached the refreshment -room when loud crashes, followed by curious oaths and -several heavy bumps, brought us back to find Freddy -struggling with an inspector and two porters, while a -lamp and the window of the third class waiting-room -were much the worse for wear.</p> - -<p>We conveyed him to our carriage—N.B. I gave the -inspector my card—and except for throwing out a seat -cushion at Culham, he relapsed into comparative inaction.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> - -<p>The cab in which we reached 129 St. Aldate’s was -paid for by Mrs. Corker, and Blandford stayed to see -Freddy to bed.</p> - -<p>When I arrived at our digs the door was opened -by Mrs. MacNab, whose cat seemed to have been imbibing -with unusual freedom; and I found the Pilot, -who had just returned from a bridge party, anxiously -measuring the decanter with a pipe-cleaner.</p> - -<p>It just occurred to me, as I was going up to bed, -that I had given my card to the hay-cart proprietor, -to the station-master at Paddington, and the inspector -at Didcot, all of whom would have to be satisfied in -the morning, while I had to repay Timmins two pounds -odd, and liberally fee the Oxford porter whom Freddy -had struck somewhere amidships.</p> - -<p>Freddy said it would be very cheap; well, perhaps -it was.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="II">II.<br /> -<span class="smaller">A QUIET EVENING.</span></h2> - -<p>Accrington called it coffee, but Reggie stipulated for -a bottle of brandy to be kept in the cupboard. As -Freddy and I climbed the staircase in the corner of -the Quad we heard the strident tones of our host proclaiming -that he was ‘looking for a needle in a haystack.’ -This, however, did not in any way justify Freddy’s -throwing an empty tobacco tin at him immediately on -entering the room, and it seemed only just that the -others should show their disapproval of this action by -throwing their cushions at Freddy. I alone missed -him, but the Pilot was rude enough to say that I must -have aimed at Freddy, because I got in a bull’s-eye on a -tray containing glasses and syphons which was balanced -on a Japanese stool in the corner.</p> - -<p>When peace had been restored, Reggie, addressing -no one in particular, remarked, ‘The Pilot was seen -at the gathering at Martyrs’ Memorial last night.’</p> - -<p>‘You’re an artistic liar,’ replied the Pilot, who is not -as meek as he looks. And the slight struggle that -ensued awoke Fatty, who was peacefully perusing -‘Pick-me-up’ in the corner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘I don’t know whose rooms these are,’ he murmured -sleepily, ‘but it is customary among gentlemen to offer -refreshment to a visitor upon arrival;’ and then, after a -plaintive pause, ‘I have been here just three-quarters of -an hour.’ After his thirst had been satisfied he was led -to the piano, and proceeded to play ‘Hiawatha,’ ‘in -order,’ as Reggie explained, ‘to get it over.’</p> - -<p>‘Henry Dalston,’ said Freddy, addressing the pianist, -‘as a balloon you are incomparable, but as an ivory-thumper -you only take a gulf, and if the same would -swallow you up it would be better still.’</p> - -<p>‘He takes,’ said Accrington wearily, ‘he takes at -least five pounds’ worth of use out of my piano every -term; “Hiawatha” about plays itself now.’</p> - -<p>‘Then why don’t you make him hire a piano?’ said -Reggie.</p> - -<p>‘He used to,’ put in Freddy with a gurgling laugh, -‘until we played it the night he was in London, and the -Dean had it sent out of College before he came back.’</p> - -<p>These revelations were interrupted by Reggie suggesting -bridge.</p> - -<p>He once taught a Colonial Governor the game at a -Swiss mountain hotel, and the Pilot, who was with -him, said he made enough to keep them in smokes for -a week.</p> - -<p>‘Reggie’s getting too uppish about bridge,’ I remarked, -as Accrington produced the cards, ‘he thinks -he’s rather an authority.’</p> - -<p>‘Nobody,’ replied Reggie, severely, ‘nobody is an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -authority on any game till he can be sure of winning -money off his opponents.’</p> - -<p>‘How many does it take to play bridge?’ asked Fatty, -peevishly, from the window-seat; ‘I hate these card -games, they’re always so dull.’</p> - -<p>‘Then you shan’t be dull, Henry dearest,’ said -Freddy, landing upon Fatty’s lower chest, and then, as -he led him by his starboard ear into Accrington’s -bedder, ‘Come with your Frederick, and let us cuddle -together.’</p> - -<p>As they disappeared, Accrington, moved by reminiscences -of former quiet evenings, called after them -uneasily:</p> - -<p>‘Kindly refrain from throwing my pyjamas out of the -window, and do not, O do not, spread water about the -floor.’</p> - -<p>‘The only complaint I have to make against the owner -of this public-house,’ said Reggie, as the Pilot dealt in -the slow and solemn manner peculiar to him, ‘is that -when I came in at the ordinary excursion hour of 1.15 -this morning, and demanded a “corpse reviver,” the -licensed victualler, who had retired to bed, refused to -provide me with anything.’</p> - -<p>‘Freddy, who is doing contracts, says that if you -don’t get what you want, you may take what you can -get, so I took three oranges, a brandy-bottle, and my -leave. It was only after Maberly had borrowed the -bottle, and served it out to seven men whom he found -sleeping in his rooms on his return from the theatre,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -that Accrington arrived in a costume that was hardly -decent, to remark that I had taken the methylated -spirits. Of course we went round to see what could be -done, but, as Maberly said they had got through three-quarters -of the bottle, we decided to leave them in peace.’</p> - -<p>‘Especially as,’ added Accrington, ‘when we shouted -at them from the Quad, a coal-box, two boot-trees, and -an alarm clock suddenly came through the window -more or less in our direction.’</p> - -<p>‘The only sad thing about it,’ said the Pilot, as he -quietly trumped his opponent’s trick, ‘is that Accrington -must have meant to drink those spirits himself, which in -one so young is positively painful.’</p> - -<p>‘Two in diamonds,’ I said, as I put down the score.</p> - -<p>‘And one in the footbath,’ yelled Freddy through the -open door, as a splash was heard, and Fatty appeared, -dripping from the effects of an immersion in Accrington’s -tub.</p> - -<p>I rose from the table and wiped Fatty tenderly down -with an antimacassar; I have noticed that he always -repays attentions like these by a sumptuous luncheon, -or the gift of a choice cigar imported from Borneo by -Dalston senior.</p> - -<p>‘Your deal, Martha,’ said the Pilot, as Fatty collapsed -heavily into the best chair.</p> - -<p>I had just started when a sound of frenzied yells from -the Quad caused me to pause for a moment; the shrieks -grew louder, and a string of guttural oaths in very low -German floated up the staircase.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Sport the oak,’ shrieked Accrington, but as Freddy -reached the door it flew open, and the portly form of -von Graussman, our Rhodes Scholar from the Fatherland, -burst in and fell flat upon the floor.</p> - -<p>‘I did my best, you fellows,’ panted Cobson, who followed -with a red and perspiring face, ‘but he’s rather -fatigued, and he’s been sitting on the flower-bed under -the Dean’s window for the last half-hour. We’ve put -him to bed three times, but he only threw his water-jug -out of window, and then came down and posed as Adam -in the Quad.’</p> - -<p>Von Graussman suddenly sat up, and remarked in a -disconnected and peevish way, ‘Hoch der Kaiser,’ after -which patriotic effort he mechanically reached for the -brandy-bottle on the table near at hand.</p> - -<p>As he removed the stopper with a shaky hand, his -eye suddenly lighted on Fatty, who was gazing dreamily -at the ceiling. A sudden crack followed, as the decanter -caught the unfortunate Henry on the lower jaw, and -spread its contents down his waistcoat. Fatty rose -with a yell which would have done credit to a wild -Indian, and, picking up the poker, made for the German -who appeared to be quite unconscious of what he had -done.</p> - -<p>As he had propped himself against the fender and -was softly crooning the ‘Wacht am Rhein,’ even Fatty -saw that violent retaliation was out of the question, and -having emptied a syphon down von Graussman’s back, -in order, as he said, to wake him up, he retired to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -change his suit. The silence which followed his disappearance -was broken by Cobson remarking that it -was ‘time to get old Grausser to bed.’</p> - -<p>‘Right oh!’ said Freddy, who is always ready for an -emergency, ‘just you keep a watchful eye upon him -while I search for his song-book.’ It is well known to -all members of Cecil’s, that the only way to get von -Graussman to bed is to let him sing a song. After he -has polished off a German students’ drinking chorus, -a child of three could manage him with ease.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, as we raised the fuddled foreigner to -his feet, Farmborough, who puts the weight for the -’Varsity, and was practising in the Quad, put a clod of -earth through our window. Any little trifle like this -is enough to disconcert von Graussman, who immediately -made a clear sweep of the ornaments on the -mantelpiece, and threw them in one clattering cloud on -to Farmborough’s head. The immaculate de Beresford, -who was crossing the Quad, received a bowl of chrysanthemums -over his new winter waistcoat, while the Junior -Porter, who had just emerged from the Dean’s staircase, -was taken somewhere amidships by a carriage clock.</p> - -<p>At the first signs of this fresh disturbance, Accrington -had hastily sported his oak, but the hoarse curses of -von Graussman soon drew the offended parties to the -right door, on which they continued to thump with ever-increasing -vigour.</p> - -<p>The application of a syphon to the letter-slit proved -unavailing, and as Cobson had to be back in his digs at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -eleven, it was imperative to make a sally. The German, -who had seated himself in the coal-scuttle, was past -help, so we tied him to his throne with a towel, and -removed all possible missiles from within his reach. -Having taken these precautions, we armed ourselves -with our host’s last two syphons and some rotten -oranges which we found in the coal bunker, and prepared -for a sortie.</p> - -<p>‘They seem to have left off that d——d row,’ said -Freddy, ‘but they’re probably waiting for us on the -landing, so throw back the portal, and we’ll rout the foe.’</p> - -<p>As the door swung back we saw a dim figure on the -landing. Reggie took careful aim and caught it in the -face with an elderly orange, Freddy bowled a chunk of -coal at its feet, while Cobson got in a bull’s-eye with -a syphon. The sallying party then retired in good -order.</p> - -<p>‘I say, Martha, who was that?’ queried Freddy as we -closed the door.</p> - -<p>‘It looked to me like Farmborough,’ I replied.</p> - -<p>‘But,’ said the Pilot, who always raises objections, -‘this was in evening dress, and Farmborough hasn’t -been out.’</p> - -<p>Just then some person, or persons, unknown, struck -a staggering blow on the oak outside. This noise aroused -von Graussman, who moved into a commanding position -opposite the door, unavoidably taking the coal-scuttle -with him. The next thing was the voice of the Dean -demanding entrance, which caused the warlike spirit of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -the company to evaporate instantaneously. Accrington, -with the skill born of long practice, concealed himself -beneath the sofa, Reggie and I shared his bed, the -Pilot, who had taken but a small part in the proceedings, -sought the seclusion of the coal-bunker, while Freddy -and Cobson stowed themselves behind the piano. Our -efforts to induce von Graussman to hide were futile; he -still retained his position, and his loudly-expressed contempt -for all in authority was, I am told, audible three -staircases off.</p> - -<p>The jingling of keys outside announced to the expectant -but invisible audience, that the Junior Porter -was opening the oak, and the Dean made an imposing -entrance to the strains of the ‘Lustige Brüder,’ as -rendered, somewhat indistinctly, by the Graf von -Graussman.</p> - -<p>As the Dean entered, von Graussman rose with some -difficulty, and after making a low obeisance—accompanied -by the coal-scuttle—addressed the Rev. Fanny in -a short but impressive speech which commenced with -‘Mein geliebte und hochwohlgeborn Herr Professor -Doktor,’ and ended, after indistinct rumblings, with the -words, ‘damnable inshult,’ ‘Faderland’ and ‘Timeforbed.’</p> - -<p>After this elocutionary effort was finished, he announced -in a feeble voice, that he ‘wongohometel -morring,’ and then fell heavily into the fender. The -Dean (who has not used the letter R since childhood) -remarked nervously, ‘This is a howwid spectacle,’ to -which the Porter, who makes a point of agreeing with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -everybody, replied, ‘Yes sir, certainly sir, of course -sir.’</p> - -<p>‘I fear the gentleman is partially, or even totally, -inebwiated,’ continued the Dean, more to himself than -the Porter, and then ‘we will wemove him to his -bedwoom,’ which they proceeded to do.</p> - -<p>As soon as the melancholy procession had passed -down the staircase, a black and dispirited face appeared -from the coal-bunker, and suggested that the party -should leave for some other and less stirring part of -the College.</p> - -<p>‘It’ll be allright for Grausser,’ said Freddy, ‘dear old -Fanny had a sister who died at twenty-nine from -drinking eau-de-cologne, and he’s had a friendly feeling -for the noble army of thirst quenchers ever since.’</p> - -<p>‘I should suggest that Accrington takes to his virtuous -couch,’ said Cobson, as we prepared to depart; ‘if you -put a night-shirt over your clothes, and get into bed, -you will naturally be too sleepy to answer any questions -the Dean may ask. We’ll turn out the electric.’</p> - -<p>We descended the stairs without attracting any -attention, and just reached the shelter of Fatty’s rooms -as the Rev. Fanny and the Junior Porter returned to -Accrington’s staircase.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, though Accrington was too sleepy, as -Cobson predicted, to answer the Dean’s questions, -Fanny spotted a stiff collar protruding from under the -surplice, and retired saying that he would draw his own -conclusions, and leaving a distinct chill behind him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -Anyhow it was a very pleasant evening, and, as Accrington -said, it was cheap at the price of four days’ gating. -The two pounds which von Graussman paid the Sub-Treasurer, -and the three weeks during which he remained -in College after hall, presumably for the good -of his health, are they not duly recorded in the Chronicles -of Cecil College, and of Bartholomew Wilkinson, -its Dean?</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="III">III.<br /> -<span class="smaller">CONCERNING THE THEATRE.</span></h2> - -<p>It was quite sudden.</p> - -<p>We were walking down the Corn one Monday morning -when a poster in front of the Hyde, depicting a lady -whose skin was black, whose hair was red, and whose -clothing consisted of a string of beads, attracted our -attention. The legend above, ‘The Cannibal Girl, Grand -Theatre, To-night,’ and the words below in large letters, -‘Queenie Hareham,’ appeared to move Freddy to tender -memories. He gazed at the amazing specimen of -modern art for fully three minutes, sighed heavily, and -then went straight off to take tickets for Monday and -Saturday.</p> - -<p>Squiff, who can celebrate any occasion, even that of -his aunt’s death, with a light heart and much whisky, -happily suggested a large lunch to some of the girls.</p> - -<p>We decided to give it in Freddy’s digs, for as Squiff, -whose real name is the O’Rossa and who is descended -from Michael, second King of Ulster, naïvely said, -‘They’re accustomed to that sort of thing at our place.’</p> - -<p>Before the curtain fell on Monday evening fifty young -gentlemen had sent fifty notes inviting one or more of -the ladies of the company to any or every meal for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -coming week. It is not remarkable in the light of subsequent -events that Miss Kiddy Childe returned an unqualified -refusal to all invitations and that the guardian -of the stage-door paid off the back instalments of his -rent on the following day.</p> - -<p>Freddy returned from the performance in a state of -ecstatic delight, and repeatedly alluded to the good times -that were coming.</p> - -<p>‘What’s it like?’ I asked.</p> - -<p>‘Glorious,’ replied Freddy, ‘and where Eileen takes -Venus in the private theatricals scene its simply colossal. -Here’s the programme.’</p> - -<p>And this is what I read:—</p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p class="center larger">THE CANNIBAL GIRL.</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Book by Tottenham Kort. Lyrics by Frederick Freshleigh. -Music by Peter Pedyll.</i></p> - -<table summary="Cast"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Jack Warmleigh</span></td><td class="tdr">Mr. Reginald Craven.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Angus MacPhee, M.D.</span></td><td class="tdr">Mr. Hardoph Erin.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Major Philip FitzGiggin, D.S.O.</span></td><td class="tdr">Mr. Fairlie Dunn.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Captain Titus Ginsling</span> (S.S. ‘Oboko’)</td><td class="tdr">Mr. Pensell Ingpen.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">The O’Hooligan</span> (Purser)</td><td class="tdr">Mr. Sidney Cruikshank.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Sotite</span> (The King’s Executioner)</td><td class="tdr">Mr. Freke.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Nokop</span> (The Medicine Man)</td><td class="tdr">Mr. John Philips.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Hon. Allan Charteris, R.N.</span></td><td class="tdr">Mr. P. Gardner.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Jethro P. Heepzotin</span> (The minced-meat magnate)</td><td class="tdr">Mr. Lyon Fybbe.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">King Caskowiski</span></td><td class="tdr">Mr. Stainer Black.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span><span class="smcap">Dowager Countess Berehampton</span></td><td class="tdr">Miss Ethel Gay.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Eileen Maxwell</span></td><td class="tdr">Miss Ina Carlton.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Mrs. Jack Warmleigh</span></td><td class="tdr">Miss Kiddy Childe.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Lilo</span></td><td rowspan="3" class="valign"><span class="bracket">}</span> <span class="bracket-compensation">The King’s favourite wives</span> <span class="bracket">{</span></td><td class="tdr">Miss Tiny Trimmer.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Noclo</span></td><td class="tdr">Miss Tweenie Tarn.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Tootoo</span></td><td class="tdr">Miss Ruby Ramsden.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Mrs. Mopper</span> (Stewardess)</td><td class="tdr">Miss Lucinda Tubb.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Lady Betty Backstays</span></td><td class="tdr">Miss Delia Kaardt.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="3" class="tdc"><span class="smcapuc">AND</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Hon. Mrs. Charteris</span> (late Pussie Pynkley<br />of the Jollity Theatre)</td><td class="tdr">Miss Queenie Hareham.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p>Islanders, Guests, etc.:—Misses Lily Lingery, Legge, Hawke, -Sharpe, Ferrars, Dacent, Milsom, Hamilton, Bond, Jones; Messrs. -Davidson, Moss, Lowe, Hart, Isaacs, Disraeli, Braun, Joseffi, Sydenham, -Hill.</p> - -<table summary="Acts and scenes"> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">ACT I.</span></td><td>The beach at Dufrutus Island.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">ACT II, Scene 1.</span></td><td>The fète of the Nogogos at Caskowiski’s Palace.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Scene 2.</span></td><td>Berehampton House, Park Lane.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p class="center"><i>Wigs by Sharxon.</i></p> - -<p class="center"><i>Ladies’ dresses by Maison de Stunim.</i> <i>Hats by Madame Misfitte.</i></p> - -<p class="center"><i>Miss Hareham’s costumes by Idem.</i></p> - -</div> - -<p>‘Kiddy Childe,’ I said, as I put it down, ‘surely that’s -Squiff’s girl?’</p> - -<p>‘Right O, right O,’ said Freddy, ‘he’s booked her -for the whole week, and even now they’re cuddling in a -private room at the Hyde.’</p> - -<p>‘But,’ burst out the Pilot who was bubbling with suppressed -excitement, ‘I wrote to her and she answered -that, owing to a sad bereavement, she is not accepting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -any invitations. Now you say Squiff’s going to have -her all the week; I believe the only thing she’s been -bereft of—’ but here a burst of laughter prevented any -further explanation; for the Pilot, as Freddy coarsely -puts it, is going to be a devil-dodger; and even his explanation -that a clergyman must see all sides of life -would hardly cover an occasion like this.</p> - -<p>‘I’ve invited Ina and the “Three Little Wives” to tea -to-morrow,’ Freddy continued when the laughter had -subsided, ‘you see that makes a girl for each of us.’</p> - -<p>Here Reggie expressed his approval by a loud tattoo -on a tobacco tin, but broke off very suddenly on Freddy -declaring:</p> - -<p>‘It must be in your digs, because Squiff’s got lunch for -sixteen and our landlady says she can’t undertake tea -after it.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s very good of you,’ said the Pilot solemnly.</p> - -<p>‘O don’t mention it,’ said Freddy, ‘we shan’t want -your rooms again till Saturday, lunch is in Accrington’s -on Wednesday and at ours on Friday.’</p> - -<p>‘By-the-bye Freddy,’ I remarked, ‘tell your girl to -bring her complexion with her.’</p> - -<p>I stooped behind the arm-chair knowing what was -coming, and so the bacca tin which followed this remark -fell harmlessly upon the tram-lines outside.</p> - -<p>‘It seems to me that this week is likely to be faintly -tinged with purple,’ observed the Pilot meditatively, -‘and if the rain keeps clear of us and we keep clear of -the Proctors I prophesy a good time for the elect.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> - -<p>At this point Freddy left hurriedly as the clocks were -striking twelve, while the rest of us, after a short but -pithy conversation through the window with O.P. 281, -retired to bed.</p> - -<p>The Pilot and I spent the morning in the arduous -duty of cutting lectures, while Reggie went round borrowing -money to pay for a theatre ticket for the following -Saturday.</p> - -<p>At lunch in Fatty’s rooms, de Beresford regaled me -with a harrowing description of Squiff’s misfortunes on -the preceding evening.</p> - -<p>‘You see,’ he said, ‘poor old Squiff got no answer to -the note he sent Kiddy Childe in the interval, so after -the show he crawled round to the stage door and waited -for her. I suppose a bull-dog must have spotted him, -for when they were half-way to her lodgings the Progpiece -was seen in full chase behind. Squiff clutched her -hand and yelled, “Faster, faster,” like the Red Queen in -Alice in Wonderland, and they did the record down St. -Ebbe’s into Paradise Square, where they got into her -house unseen. Unfortunately it never struck them that -their light was the only one in the Square, and this drew -the Proctor like a moth. Squiff had barely time to get -behind Kiddy’s dress-basket and pull a cabin trunk -in front of him, when the obtrusive official entered -the house and insisted on looking round the rooms. -The dear girl shrieked through the door that she was -going to bed, and when the Proctor had convinced himself -of this, he departed, leaving two men to watch the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -house. At least this is how Squiff explained the fact -that he didn’t reach his digs till 12.19.’</p> - -<p>‘And,’ added Fatty, ‘the estimable Corker, who has -not yet joined the Temperance League, had gone to bed -with the door-key in her pocket entirely oblivious of the -fact that Squiff had not returned, so Freddy had to haul -him up by a sheet.’</p> - -<p>‘If they do these things on the Monday, I shudder to -think of Saturday,’ I remarked as I left to play against -Barabbas’, while the others made for the river. I did -rather well over the match, for after amassing 48 I persuaded -Accrington to field for me, and returned for our -tea-party.</p> - -<p>I thought I was fairly punctual, but when I burst into -the sitting-room I found the ‘Three Little Wives’ in -one arm-chair gloating over ‘Gals’ Gossip.’</p> - -<p>‘I must apologize for Lord Gilderdale not being here -to receive you,’ I began, when a lady whom I subsequently -discovered to be Miss Tiny Trimmer clustered -round me and murmured sweetly ‘Oh! don’t let that -worry you! I suppose you’re Martha?’ From which I -gathered that Squiff had not spent all his time behind the -basket on the preceding evening. After the sweet thing -had introduced me to Ruby and Tweenie as Mr. Martha -Cochrane, ‘the friend of Kiddy’s boy,’ we proceeded to -make ourselves comfortable on the sofa but were immediately -disturbed by Freddy who burst in like a -whirlwind, exclaiming,</p> - -<p>‘I’m awfully sorry I’m late, girls, but I see the lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -of the house has received you,’ and then, ‘where’s -Ina?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh I expect she’s still on the river with the Rajah,’ -said Ruby.</p> - -<p>‘What, old Jellipore?’ cried the Pilot, as he came into -the room; ‘curse those Basutos.’</p> - -<p>Further introductions were followed by the arrival of -Reggie and the tea-tray, which was presided over by the -Pilot, who seemed rather in the cold pending the arrival -of Miss Carlton.</p> - -<p>During the meal the conversation ranged from Oxford -to St. John’s Wood via Rhodes’ Will and Protection, -and on its conclusion Freddy took Tiny into our other -sitting-room to inspect my curious collection of birds’ -eggs.</p> - -<p>Miss Ina Carlton not yet having arrived, the Pilot improvised -on the piano while I gave Tweenie Tarn my -views on marriage, and Reggie in a distant corner discussed -the relative merits of Oxford and Cambridge with -the delicious Ruby Ramsden.</p> - -<p>After a bit we discovered that the Pilot had silently -departed, and then Reggie considerately offered to take -the fair Ruby on the river for an hour, and they left -accordingly.</p> - -<p>At half-past six we smoothed out the dents in the -sofa, and Tweenie said she ‘really must go.’</p> - -<p>We thought it kinder not to go into the other sitting-room, -but Tweenie enquired from the passage if Tiny -meant to go home before the show or not.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> - -<p>As no answer was forthcoming, after a somewhat -protracted farewell in the hall, I put Tweenie into a -hansom and went up to dress for dinner.</p> - -<p>I did not hear Miss Trimmer depart, and when I left -the house at seven the dining-room door was still -closed.</p> - -<p>All through the evening the Pilot was in a state of -suppressed rage, inspired by the unfortunate Rajah of -Jellipore, who had, probably quite unconsciously, kept -Miss Carlton out on the river about three hours too long.</p> - -<p>The Rajah, whose father’s harem was the finest in the -East, early acquired a nice taste in chiffon, and is apparently -endeavouring to form a large acquaintance among -the ladies of the stage, obviously, as the Pilot bitterly -remarked, for recruiting purposes. However, Peter had -his innings on the following day at Accrington’s lunch, -after which he carried off Ina for a quiet hour on the -Cher, much to his host’s disgust. The remainder of -the day passed off very quietly.</p> - -<p>Thursday was only remarkable for a spirited lecture by -the Provost on the evils of the stage, delivered to Accrington -at the leprous hour of 9.30 a.m.</p> - -<p>Our venerable Head had met the lunch party leaving -College on the preceding day, and although we all -saluted him with the utmost politeness, he did not -return our greeting, but passed on his way combing his -beard with his fingers, which is always a sign of impending -evil.</p> - -<p>‘The old bird turned very stuffy,’ said Accrington,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -relating the occurrence afterwards, ‘and said he seriously -thought of informing my parents that I was -wasting my time and money, and doing no good to -myself or anybody else.’</p> - -<p>‘The usual formula,’ remarked Freddy, <i>en parenthèse</i>; -‘and finished up with the parting slap that no more -lunch-leave would be given me this term. I’m afraid,’ he -concluded, ‘that the last fragments of my reputation -have dissolved.’</p> - -<p>‘A reputation,’ remarked the Pilot, solemnly, ‘is an -expensive and unnecessary luxury in Oxford, and I can -only marvel at the fearful efforts daily made by many -to retain what was originally only a shadow.’ After this -sweeping statement the unfortunate Peter was carried -off to lunch at Luther House by a person with a pale -face and a black cloak. As we strolled back to digs -Reggie informed us that the Rajah had monopolised the -entire company for the day, and there was nothing to -do but to look forward to to-morrow’s lunch, which -was going, in Kruger’s famous phrase, to ‘stagger -humanity.’</p> - -<p>From an early hour on Friday the antique remnant -who wheels about Woodman’s cart was engaged in carrying -delicacies of every kind, from champagne cup to -salted almonds, towards 129, and Mrs. Corker, whose -tongue has solved the problem of perpetual motion, -spent the morning in listening to and immediately forgetting -the numerous instructions which Squiff issued -from his bedroom.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> - -<p>Freddy, being a Roman Catholic, fasts—on lobster -mayonnaise—every Friday, so he journeyed to the extreme -end of the Banbury Road to get a dispensation -from Father McGinnis, his spiritual adviser. On my arrival -at 11.15 with Reggie, an agonized voice from Squiff’s -room besought me to hurry round to the Purewell Press -and demand the menus, which were Freddy’s choice, -and calculated to make any one sit up. When I returned -from this errand I found Squiff, who had reached -the collar and braces stage, issuing his fifth batch of -instructions to the muddled Corker, who had propped -herself against the bannisters and was weeping copiously.</p> - -<p>At this juncture Freddy did a cake-walk into the -room waving the dispensation, and we toasted the -McGinnis in sherry and bitters. Freddy says that no -one Roman Catholic priest stays in Oxford for long, -the confessions are too much for them. While we were -still honouring the Reverend Father a large crowd in -the street below attracted our attention, and out of it -there emerged Accrington, Reggie and the Pilot, carrying -between them Farmborough’s bull-pup, the infamous -Totters, who had apparently had a slight difference of -opinion with a tram-conductor. Having deposited the -ferocious animal in Freddy’s bedder they joined us in -the drawing-room, where the unfortunate Corker met -us with the announcement that Woodman had sent -round no crockery but soup-plates. This horrible -catastrophe instantly revealed Squiff’s marvellous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -faculty for dealing with an emergency. Before we had -finished discussing what to do he had returned from -next door bringing with him an entire dinner service -which he had borrowed from the Hon. Lionel Strongi’th’arm, -of Thomas’, as the said gentleman was going -to attend the biterminal lunch of the Swillingdon Club. -This promptitude so surprised Mrs. Corker that she -found it necessary to have a cup of tea with a slight dash -in it, which Squiff readily granted, as he says the -savoury is always better when the Corker has dipped -her beak.</p> - -<p>At this moment the Pilot, who was more out of the -window than in the room, espied our guests coming -down St. Aldate’s, whereupon Squiff and Freddy ran -down to meet them, while Reggie hastily secreted -Squiff’s seven signed photos of Mabel Amoore, on account, -as he explained, of professional jealousy. Freddy had -only just directed them to his bedroom to leave their -hats, when several loud shrieks followed by heavy -thumps heralded the entrance of Miss Tiny Trimmer, -with Totters firmly attached to her under petticoat. -As they got inside the door they parted company, and -Totters leapt upon the sofa triumphantly shaking in his -mouth a piece of frilled yellow silk, which Freddy -rescued and locked in his private drawer as a memento. -The Corker was hastily summoned to give professional -assistance, after which we sat down to lunch, a party of -twelve.</p> - -<p>The late Mr. Corker’s half-brother, a military gentleman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -of funereal aspect, by the name of Blubb, had -kindly consented, for a small gratuity, to assist on this -occasion; ‘it being,’ as he explained to Squiff, ‘not my -hordinary vacation, but honly to oblige.’</p> - -<p>‘I’m so sorry about that wretched dog,’ said Freddy, -as he settled himself beside Tiny, ‘but he was always of -an enquiring nature.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh! he’s not so bad as Jellipore,’ replied Tiny, ‘he -sticks like a burr. Why, when we told him we were -out to every meal on Wednesday, he had a special one -at half-past eleven in the morning for us, and we had -to go.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ve had over a dozen notes from him since we -arrived,’ said Ina wearily across the table, ‘and he sends -me poppies every day, the one flower I loathe.’</p> - -<p>‘Would you like to go out to Jellipore as Ranee?’ -asked the Pilot.</p> - -<p>‘No, thanks,’ replied Ina, ‘I’m going to be the only -pebble on my beach, and he’s got a regular cartload on -his.’</p> - -<p>‘You do generally appear to be stony, dear,’ said -Ruby, amidst general laughter.</p> - -<p>‘Ah! I haven’t got so many kind friends as you -have,’ retorted Ina.</p> - -<p>There is no knowing what this conversation might -have led to, had not the Blubber appeared at Ina’s -elbow with uncanny stealth, and demanded in a sepulchral -voice:</p> - -<p>‘Sherry wine or ’ock, Miss?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘D’you like Oxford?’ enquired Accrington, who -always makes the most obvious remarks.</p> - -<p>‘Oh! it’s lovely,’ responded Ruby enthusiastically, -‘and so exciting. Why, only yesterday I spent an -hour in a man’s cupboard, because his aunt paid him -a surprise visit on her way home from Scotland.’</p> - -<p>‘How very unpleasant for you, dearest,’ put in Lily -sweetly, ‘but of course you can take care of yourself.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s better anyhow,’ replied Ruby tartly, ‘than -always wanting one of the other sex to perform that -duty, like someone I know.’</p> - -<p>Here Freddy rapped sharply on the table and cried, -‘Parrot-house next door,’ which remark effectually -silenced the girls, but seriously upset Reggie, who -had been preparing a joke for several minutes.</p> - -<p>‘I suppose you are a great authority on birds’ eggs -now,’ queried the Pilot of Tiny, from the bottom of the -table, amid a general silence.</p> - -<p>‘What do you mean?’ demanded the fair one, who -had completely forgotten the incident in question.</p> - -<p>‘O nothing, only you spent two hours examining -Martha’s collection with Freddy in our digs on Thursday -afternoon.’</p> - -<p>As nobody appeared to have anything further to say -on this subject a holy hush fell upon the company, until -Accrington, who had not asked a well-worn question for -very nearly three minutes, demanded of Tweenie, -‘Have you seen any Freshers’ delights?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Do you mean Mr. de Beresford’s canary-coloured -waistcoat?’ she asked.</p> - -<p>‘’Pon my word you’re rather hard on poor D.B.,’ said -Accrington, ‘didn’t I see you driving over with him to——?’</p> - -<p>Here the Blubber, with involuntary tact, created -a sufficient diversion by dropping a meringue and then -standing on it.</p> - -<p>When Freddy had withered the old man with a glance, -and more champagne had been dealt out all round, -Squiff, who had been carrying on a <i>sotto voce</i> conversation -with Miss Childe since the beginning of the meal, -suddenly looked up and remarked, ‘Kiddy’s going to -dance the “Can-can” for us after lunch.’</p> - -<p>When I noticed the startling change which passed -over the features of the Blubber, I fancied that he must -have seen this graceful display of agility before, and -I subsequently found the aged reprobate with his eye -glued to the keyhole.</p> - -<p>Freddy then proposed the health of the ‘Cannibal -Girl’ Company in a neat little speech, in the course of -which he mentioned that he never knew Cannibal girls -wore so many clothes before.</p> - -<p>‘I haven’t noticed anything excessive,’ put in Reggie, -who had hitherto been obscured by the shapely form of -Miss Trimmer. He mentioned that he thought three -such pretty wives were entirely wasted on an old Mormon -like Caskowiski, especially as some of us hadn’t -even one apiece.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - -<p>After this the tables were hastily cleared, and a few -minutes later the Bursar of Thomas’, as he passed up -St. Aldate’s, was edified by the spectacle of a large and -interested crowd collected in front of the Maison Squiff. -At the first glance he could only make out the back -portion of someone who appeared to be conducting an -orchestra, a hideous discord proceeding from the room; -but on putting on his glasses he descried a gentleman -standing on a chair and holding a top hat, which a lady, -who was making a marvellous display of lingerie, kicked -with astounding frequency amid loud applause. ‘The -whole forming,’ as he subsequently remarked to his -friend, a genial Tutor, ‘A motht degwading thpectacle -for the undegwaduate, though, between ourthelves, -I’ve theldom theen it better done, even at the Folies -Berthères. I hope,’ he added plaintively, ‘that thethe -young thcoundrelth didn’t thee me watching from the -other thide of the threet.’ The Tutor, a request for more -details meeting with no response, clutched his hat and -started hastily for St. Aldate’s.</p> - -<p>After the dance was finished, it was discovered that -Ruby and Reggie had silently left the room, ‘in order,’ -as he subsequently explained, ‘to talk over Freddy’s -stamp collection.’ We left them in possession of the -drawing room, and departed in couples for the river, -most of us turning up again just in time for Hall.</p> - -<p>On the following day we could see nothing of the -dear girls as they had a matinée, and the Rajah succeeded -in capturing them for tea. Owing to this I was able to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -meet Freddy, who was coming from his law lecture at -St. Spirits’, about 12 o’clock, at Carfax: and having -picked up Accrington at the O.U.D.S., we made our way -to Butler’s, the florist’s. Here we encountered one of -those startling obstacles that turn the brightest sunshine -into overwhelming darkness.</p> - -<p>‘We are very sorry, sir, but our Mr. Butler says he -can’t possibly send any more bouquets round to the -theatre on credit,’ said the slim young person in charge -of the shop, with a weary air. As we could not manage -to make up the requisite amount between us, Freddy, -after a little tactful persuasion, induced her to fetch -the proprietor from his lunch.</p> - -<p>The sight of one of the Earl of Paunbrough’s cards, of -which Freddy keeps a large stock for cases analogous -to this, produced an immediate effect upon the obsequious -Butler, and he readily consented to supply us with -three arum lilies, some moss and a furlong of wire, the -whole done up most artistically with the College ribbon, -for the absurdly small price of two guineas. This -arduous duty successfully performed, we returned to our -respective luncheons promising to meet again at the -Hyde at 6.30, when a few of us were going to dine -together. On my way home I saw Verimisti, the Italian -Count from King’s, who was madly in love with Lucinda -Tubb, a lady whose youth has long been out of sight, -though she still keeps it in mind, and often refers to it. -That afternoon the Unregenerate narrowly escaped a -terrible calamity which might have thrown us all into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -the deepest mourning and put a sudden end to our -innocent jollity. Squiff, who was fielding out in the deep, -had been standing at ease for about half-an-hour, when -he suddenly bethought him of a photograph of the fair -Kiddy in his pocket, and having extracted it, was gazing -at it with soulful intensity, when the ball descending -like a meteor, struck him violently on the head; but -thanks to a cabbage-leaf in his hat and an abnormally -thick skull no great damage was done.</p> - -<p>We assembled as arranged at 6.30, a large but select -party, though Verimisti who had had a champagne tea -with Jellipore and the ladies, had already reached the -confidential stage, and after twice shaking hands warmly -with everybody, at once started on Accrington with a -pointless Italian story which lasted all through dinner. -In addition to our crowd from Cecil’s we had Blandford -of Barabbas’, a prominent sportsman, who contributes -very generously to the University Chest per the Proctors, -St. Quentin of Mary’s, and finally de Beresford. I am -not very clear as to the events of that night after we -reached the theatre; but I recollect quite distinctly that -at dinner we emptied a prodigious number of bottles, -chiefly in health-drinking, and that Verimisti’s speech in -replying for Italy was a triumph of incomprehensibility. -When our party of ten finally landed at the theatre in a -most hilarious mood and all wearing purple carnations, -the performance had already started, for we heard the -first song being roughly handled by a crowded and enthusiastic -house. As we filed into our seats, some of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -our friends in the dress circle cheered, and we had -much difficulty in preventing Verimisti from replying. -Blandford created the first diversion of the evening by -omitting to turn down his seat, and collapsing with -some suddenness on the floor. A large party of twenty-firsters -from Barabbas’—most of whom knew Blandford—rose -and cheered heartily, the chorus of female savages -who occupied the stage passing entirely unnoticed. The -entrance of Nokop—the King’s physician—however was -greeted with great applause and the popular chorus of -his song:—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">We’ve potions and pills,</div> -<div class="verse">Curing all ills,</div> -<div class="verse">Dispensed by the great Nokop,</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="noindent">was taken up by everyone regardless of time and tune. -We were particularly pleased with a gentleman in the -second row who conducted the song with much greater -success than the salaried official before the footlights. -After the third encore, several entire strangers in the -second row rose and shook his hand, while a person -in a brown bowler hat and knicker-bockers appeared in -the wings and made frantic signals to refuse further -demands. Von Graussman, who seemed to be feeling -the heat in the dress circle, here endeavoured to address -the audience to the exclusion of King Caskowiski, who -had just made an imposing entrance, and the following -dialogue ensued:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>K.C. (<i>in a dignified manner</i>), ‘Welcome my dusky -subjects.’</p> - -<p>V.G. (<i>suddenly struck by K.C.’s state robes</i>), ‘You vas -a Broctor.’</p> - -<p>K.C. (<i>continues</i>), ‘Let our wives attend us to the -palace.’</p> - -<p>V.G. (<i>apparently reassured on the former subject</i>), ‘My -vriends he vas a Mormon.’</p></div> - -<p>At this point a bulky and uniformed official intervened -and von Graussman’s companion, a spectacled scholar -of Cecil’s, was hustled out of the theatre without a -chance of explanation, just as Sotite came forward to -sing his famous song. The chorus of this, beginning:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse">‘It’s tails I win and heads you lose,’</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p class="noindent">is peculiarly tricky, and even the energetic sportsman in -front was unable to keep the field altogether, for the -orchestra finished first by a short bar, followed by -Sotite and the Barabbas party, the rest of us being left -at the post. Verimisti indeed, continued to sing the refrain -through the whole of the next verse.</p> - -<p>The landing and entrance of the English party created -immense enthusiasm, though I failed to see why the -Hon. Mrs. Charteris should come ashore in a skirt considerably -above her knees, and Angus MacPhee’s topper -and frock-coat seemed peculiarly out of place on a -Cannibal Island. After the inevitable chorus, there -followed the ‘Three Wives’ song, which received seven -encores, and then Freddy, who, we understand had seen -the piece before, declared that there was nothing of -interest to follow, and drove us outside, ‘being,’ as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -remarked, ‘Called to the Bar.’ Before we could regain -our seats the curtain had fallen on the first act, and -finding it impossible to remain in the crowded saloon, -we paraded the street for ten minutes. When we got -in again we found the second act in full swing, Ginsling -and a chorus of female cabin-boys in a cake-walk receiving -repeated encores, after which the self-appointed -conductor went out to drown the microbes, returning -just in time for Mrs. Mopper’s song on the perils of the -ocean. The last verse of this was entirely lost through -the attempted entrance of four members of the Snorters’ -Club from Tydvil College, who were eventually ejected—after -having embroiled most of the audience near the -door—by four uniformed officials, assisted by the box-office -clerk and two programme boys. But we afterwards -discovered that Ironsides, the heavy-weight -champion, left a limb of the law on the door mat, -while a programme boy who had clung to him was deposited -on a hay-cart in the yard of the Hyde. The -sympathies of the audience were all with the Snorters, -and after a brief though stirring speech from Reggie on -the rights of Englishmen, the Barabbas men behind rose -en masse and demanded somebody’s blood; but when -the popular manager explained that the Lessees had -gone home in a hansom they were appeased and resumed -their seats for Queenie Hareham’s favourite song ‘They -all of them have tried it on with me.’ After this the plot, -in the fashion of musical comedies, was recklessly -abandoned, and Jack Warmleigh did a Coon dance with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -Lady Betty Backstays. But the Hon. Alan Charteris, -R.N., who attempted to sing a love song totally unconnected -with the piece, was greeted with loud shouts -of ‘Go off’; and then ensued a general mystification of -the audience by dressing every character as some one -else, including Mrs. Charteris’ appearance as the Cannibal -Girl, which finished the first scene and gave another interval -for lip-salve. Our little refreshment cost us -nothing this time, as a complete stranger from the dress -circle, who described himself in quavering tones as the -‘Great Mogul,’ absolutely insisted upon providing us all -with lotion, though Freddy’s back teeth were already -under water. Owing to a free fight which took place in -the ladies’ cloak-room between de Beresford and a most -indigestible looking person from Llewellyn’s, whose face -he said annoyed him, we did not regain our seats until the -next act was well under weigh. A gentleman from Barabbas’, -after having kissed my hand, insisted upon my sitting -on his knee, and addressed me fondly as ‘The Queen of -the May.’ Owing to this and a tired feeling which -came over me about this time, I saw nothing for quite -ten minutes. When I next looked at the stage I found -that the theatricals at Berehampton House were going -strong, and the tableau representing Eileen Mervyn as -Venus with King Caskowiski as Apollo balancing an -apple on his head, was hailed with rapturous applause. -The next tableau showed a lady wrapped in little else -but mystery pointing to the sky, but before I had time -to enquire what she was supposed to be, the gentleman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -on whose knee I was sitting suddenly shifted his position -and I fell rather heavily to the floor. During the tableaux -a fearful din prevented any songs reaching us, -while the party from Barabbas’ appeared to be having -a concert to themselves. At last the curtain fell amid -cries of ‘Speech’ from all sides, and something in dress -clothes with an enormous paste stud and a Roman -nose advanced in front of the members of the Company -and their respective bouquets. His lips appeared to be -moving, but as there was no abatement of noise the -curtain soon fell for the last time and we felt our way -out while two King’s men strove heroically to remove -the big bassoon.</p> - -<p>We enjoyed a most successful supper with our lady -friends, at which Verimisti failed to put in an appearance. -On our way home we danced the Lancers at -Carfax, and after vainly demanding a speech from the -Principal of Barabbas’, whose house looks onto the -High, retired to bed.</p> - -<p>Reggie said the departure of the Company on the -following morning reminded him of a Roman General’s -triumph, and proved a positive harvest time for the -cabbies. The smallest computation put the number of -undergraduates present at a hundred and twenty, but -the Proctor on his arrival only succeeded in entrapping -eleven, of whom three had leave to go to town and one -had come to meet his uncle.</p> - -<p>The state of Accrington’s clothes, after spending half-an-hour -in the lamp-room, was the cause of much profanity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -while Squiff, who had climbed into a coal-truck, -proved quite unrecognisable. But the adventures of the -immaculate de Beresford put these misfortunes quite -into the shade, for he was carried off in a horse-box -to Stow-on-the-Wold, and only returned about 10 p.m. -minus his watch-chain and cigarette-case, which he left -at that remote spot as security for his dinner and return -ticket.</p> - -<p>However, even the solemn Pilot admitted that it was -a very good week.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="IV">IV.<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE MUTUAL HELP SOCIETY.</span></h2> - -<p>The credit of the idea must be given to Reggie; he -suggested it at a time when we were all in low water -and when his birthday gifts from loving uncles and -aunts had just poured into Reggie’s receptive hands, -so no mercenary motives can be imputed to him. If -the idea did not turn out the brilliant success we anticipated, -that was due to faults in the system, and not -in the promoters.</p> - -<p>We were all in Reggie’s rooms one day, forming a -small committee of Ways and Means, with, as Squiff -said, plenty of ways and no means, when Reggie suddenly -remarked, ‘Why shouldn’t we have a fund?’</p> - -<p>The Pilot, who conceals a tendency to make obvious -and painful puns behind a solemn demeanour, had just -begun, ‘The fundamental principle—,’ when Reggie -remarked sadly, ‘I am serious.’</p> - -<p>When the Pilot had been suppressed with two -cushions and a syphon; Squiff inquired, ‘A fund, -what for?’</p> - -<p>‘For mutual help,’ answered Reggie.</p> - -<p>‘Oh! a sort of coal-and-clothing-mothers’-meeting-keep-the-baby-warm -kind of article,’ put in Freddy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Not at all,’ said Reggie, ‘it will be something like -this. I propose that each member—’</p> - -<p>‘Who are the members to be?’ interrupted Squiff.</p> - -<p>‘That,’ replied Reggie with an airy wave of the -hand, ‘we can settle later. Each member shall contribute -say five or eight pounds a term, which will be -handed to the Treasurer and kept by him—’</p> - -<p>‘If Squiff is made Treasurer the money will certainly -be kept by him,’ interjected the Pilot.</p> - -<p>After I had picked up the china ornament and the -table-leg which were broken in the subsequent scuffle, -Reggie continued, ‘The money will be kept by the -Treasurer, who will not be a paid official, and used in -time of stress by the members. For instance, supposing -a summons has to be paid, or a railway-fare to -town is required, the member needing the money will -go to the Treasurer, and after pledging his word that -the circumstances are urgent shall withdraw just as -much as is needed and no more. There will also be -special rules about repayment.’</p> - -<p>‘They will be needed,’ I remarked; ‘and we must -also have “urgent circumstances” clearly defined, as -I foresee trouble on that score.’</p> - -<p>‘Well,’ said Squiff, ‘if every one is agreed, that some -such Society is needed, let us draw up the rules at -once. If an undertaking like this is left under discussion -after the first week of term the subscriptions will -have to be lowered to five shillings, and that won’t -be much use.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Rule 1,’ said Reggie, tapping the table with a paper-knife, -‘That this Society be known as the “Cecil College -Mutual Help Society.”’</p> - -<p>Rule 2, ‘That the terminal subscription be five pounds -with no entrance-fee, but that the membership be strictly -limited.’</p> - -<p>‘I think—’ began the Pilot.</p> - -<p>‘Wait a moment till I have read out what I’ve written -down and then we can discuss it,’ said Reggie.</p> - -<p>Rule 3, ‘That all repayments of amounts drawn out -over and above a member’s own subscription be made -within eight weeks.’</p> - -<p>Rule 4, ‘That every member before drawing out -money must pledge his word that the circumstances -are urgent. Such urgent circumstances must be taken -to mean the entire lack of money on the borrower’s -part, and the immediate necessity for a loan. Urgent -circumstances do not include the need of theatre tickets, -bouquets, suppers, payments of accounts before a solicitor’s -letter has been received, or payment to any tailor -or photographer.’</p> - -<p>Rule 5, ‘That no money be borrowed during the first -two weeks of term, and that no member who has failed -to make repayment within eight weeks may avail himself -of the privileges of membership until such repayment -be made.’</p> - -<p>Rule 6, ‘That in the event of all funds being exhausted -before the last week of term, the Treasurer—who -shall be elected terminally—shall call a meeting -to announce the fact.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> - -<p>Rule 7, ‘That any money left over—’</p> - -<p>‘We can dispense with that rule,’ remarked Squiff, -‘there never will be any money left over.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s all I’ve got down,’ said Reggie, ‘discussion -may now commence.’</p> - -<p>‘Supposing,’ remarked the Pilot, who is always ready -with an objection, ‘supposing that the Treasurer himself -borrows all the available funds at the beginning of the -third week, or that he goes away leaving the money -locked up, what is to happen?’</p> - -<p>‘I propose rule seven,’ said Squiff. ‘The Treasurer -to be unable to borrow without consulting two members, -and in case of absence to appoint a deputy.’</p> - -<p>‘Of course he must keep accounts,’ said Freddy; -‘and is responsible for collecting repayments and subscriptions.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s a good idea,’ I said; ‘but will it work?’</p> - -<p>‘We can but try,’ replied Reggie. ‘It saves incessant -borrowing and is simple; both of which are great points -in its favour. Are we all agreed on these seven Rules?’</p> - -<p>‘Oughtn’t we to limit the borrowing powers of each -member?’ asked Freddy.</p> - -<p>‘That wouldn’t be any use,’ said Reggie; ‘but we -can frame rule eight. That each member only borrow -sufficient for his urgent need, and give to the Treasurer -a statement of his reason for borrowing. That ought to -be sufficient.’</p> - -<p>‘I think so,’ agreed Freddy; ‘but we ought to exclude -betting from the Urgent Circumstances.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Right!’ said the Pilot, ‘and now for the members. -There are five of us, Accrington will be six, von Graussman -seven, and Fatty eight: that gives us forty pounds, -which will do to start on. Suppose we appoint Fatty -treasurer, he has a good head for figures.’</p> - -<p>This proposal was unanimously carried, as Fatty was -not present to decline the honour, and the meeting adjourned -till the following evening in Fatty’s rooms. In -the meanwhile the objects of the Club were explained -to the other three in moving terms, and they promised -their adherence. Von Graussman, whose father is a -great Austrian financier, had grave doubts about the -scheme, and wrote to his people for advice; meanwhile -however, we collared his subscription, and he became, -however unwillingly, a member.</p> - -<p>A proposal by Fatty, who does not play cards, to -exclude Bridge from the list of Urgent Circumstances -was negatived by seven to one. The Pilot also was -as usual full of objections, but these were overruled, -and the Cecil’s Mutual Help Society started on its brief, -but bright, career.</p> - -<p>The first fortnight of the term was uneventful, and -marked only by sustained attacks on the integrity of -the Treasurer, by bribery and threats in order to induce -him to break rule five. These having failed there was -nothing to do but wait. On the first morning of the -third week—it was a Saturday—Accrington and Squiff -met at 9.15 at the bottom of the Treasurer’s staircase, -and a race ensued for Fatty’s bedroom. The official<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -however declared with unnecessary heat that business -hours did not begin till 10.30, and so they were obliged -to retire till then. At a quarter past ten, Squiff, who is -an adept at manœuvring, returned and began a conversation -with Fatty who was at breakfast, which lasted -till the clock struck half-past and Accrington’s step -sounded on the staircase, and then he jumped up and -remarked quietly ‘I want two tenners out of the Fund.’ -Accrington, who arrived almost breathless, only required -a modest fiver. Fatty took a seat at table with a large -account-book and a stylo. He took Accrington’s case -first as being the simpler, and was quite ready to advance -the money, but some difficulty occurred in interpreting -the rules.</p> - -<p>‘How does one pledge one’s word within the meaning -of the Act?’ enquired the Treasurer plaintively.</p> - -<p>‘I should make him swear horribly,’ remarked Squiff; -‘I don’t think he’s the sort of person I should trust -with the funds of any Club.’</p> - -<p>The roll which Accrington threw at him did not hit -him, but finished the career of a small china dog which -had belonged to Fatty’s grandmother, and smashed two -liqueur-glasses into fragments. When peace had been -restored, Accrington produced a summons from Tuneham -and Keighley—the piano-people in the High—for -‘the hire of piano for two years, tuning, replacing -broken keys, do. wires, do. candlesticks, do. pedals, -£5/2/: paid by cash, 2/-. Total owing. £5.’ This<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -convinced Fatty, who handed over a cheque for five -pounds without demur, and Accrington left rejoicing.</p> - -<p>Squiff’s case was harder:</p> - -<p>‘At the end of last term,’ he explained to Fatty, who -had assumed a judicial aspect, ‘I had to raise money -on my motor in order to have four nights in town -and do the Rugger Match properly. It is still in -Goldstein’s clutches: yesterday I got a telegram to -say that my Uncle Terence—Sir Terence MacGurkin, -my mater’s brother—who gave me the car, is coming -down here, and wants me to take him for some nice -spins. If he finds I’ve pawned it, there’ll be the devil -to pay, and the uncle certainly won’t pay him, nor me. -I shall have to run up to town to-day, get the mo-mo, -pay Goldstein, and drive it down here, ready for Uncle -Terence to-morrow; and,’ he concluded rapidly, ‘if the -urgency isn’t apparent even to you’—‘Don’t be rude,’ -interpolated Fatty—‘then nothing will ever penetrate -your brain.’</p> - -<p>‘I think,’ Fatty had begun, when hurried steps -sounded on the stairs and von Graussman appeared -clad in a most curious costume, and with unbrushed -hair. To him Squiff immediately said, ‘I don’t think, -old chap, that you ought to present yourself in a costume -like that before the Treasurer of the Cecil’s -Mutual Help Society, you look as if you hadn’t been -to bed all night, and then had got up too early, if -such a thing is possible.’</p> - -<p>‘It vos alright perhaps that I must be given nineteen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -pounds by Mr. Fatty from the moneys of the lately -formed-and-much-to-be-commended-by-needy-gentlemens-’Elp-Clubs,’ -he remarked in one breath.</p> - -<p>‘Once more!’ shrieked Squiff ecstatically.</p> - -<p>‘I vos not repeading,’ replied von Graussman with -dignity, ‘in der worts of Bilate vot I vos say I had -shpoken.’</p> - -<p>‘What Pilate really said—’ began Squiff, when Fatty -who had sunk into a sort of reverie, suddenly awoke -and thumped on the table vigorously. ‘The valuable -time of the Treasurer is being frittered away,’ he remarked -solemnly. ‘The case of the O’Rossa is under -consideration. He has explained his need for twenty -pounds; the only remaining formality is the pledging -of his word. When he has done that I will hand over -the cheque.’ Squiff, who had been speaking to von -Graussman, hurriedly pledged his word and left to -catch the 12.10 to town, while von Graussman proceeded -to pour into Fatty’s ears a long and disconnected -tale in which the words, ‘Boliceman,’ ‘damnable,’ -‘fraulein,’ and ‘gompensations,’ appeared frequently, -so Fatty gathered that it had some reference to an -escapade in town during the week before term. However, -as von Graussman was prepared to swear to the -urgency of the circumstances, he saw no reason why he -should not advance the amount, but discovered to his -horror that there were only fifteen pounds left. He explained -this to the German, who replied that ‘he could -sew der matters up mit so much,’ and went off with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -Club’s last money. Fatty, who saw in this a speedy -ending to the worries of a Treasurership, contentedly -entered the amounts in his book, and then took a cab -to his History Lecture at James’.</p> - -<p>It was only when Freddy casually applied for two -pounds to pay Foundry deceased—on account—that -he discovered that the end of the money did not imply -the end of his troubles.</p> - -<p>‘You lent twenty pounds to Squiff,’ screamed Freddy; -‘why, you know he’s overdrawn his next month’s -allowance and pawned his dressing case.’</p> - -<p>‘I didn’t know,’ replied Fatty placidly, ‘besides, it -seems to me that those are the very circumstances in -which the Club becomes useful and even necessary.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, but,’ retorted Freddy, ‘he won’t be able to pay -it back for weeks, and I know I shall want to borrow -next week.’</p> - -<p>‘Come early and leave early,’ remarked the Treasurer -irritatingly. ‘If you’d come at half-past ten -when the office opens you might have got something. -As it is you must wait till some one pays in.’</p> - -<p>‘Anyhow,’ remarked Freddy, ‘by rule six you must -call a meeting and announce that all funds are exhausted, -and I don’t envy you the job, as I know -Martha was coming round to borrow in the morning, -and Reggie is sure to be hard up as well.’</p> - -<p>The meeting fulfilled the expectation of Freddy; it -was stormy on the part of Reggie and myself, placid -on Fatty’s, and calmly indifferent on the part of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -original borrowers. Freddy demanded a further subscription -which Squiff and von Graussman opposed. -Eventually we arranged a compromise by which everybody -was to pay in three pounds within three days, and -the meeting broke up. For the next few days events -progressed quietly until another meeting was suddenly -summoned to report that Reggie and I having borrowed -a tenner each, and Fatty himself—by permission—the -remaining four pounds, funds were again exhausted, -and as the time for repayment had not nearly expired -we were once more at a standstill. Eventually -a motion was passed by six to two, Squiff and von -Graussman dissenting, that the time for repayment of -the original loans should expire on the following -Saturday. This caused great perturbation among the -borrowers, but by the help of an overdraft at the bank -von Graussman scraped up the money, and Accrington -paid in his five pounds without any difficulty. The real -blow to our Club fell upon us on the Sunday when -the third meeting within three weeks was called to announce -the absence of funds: this positively staggered -us, but we had not counted on Squiff’s presence of mind. -On the day before, which was fixed for paying in, he -had given Fatty his cheque for twenty pounds, and had -immediately afterwards drawn out the available twenty -pounds—paid in by von Graussman and Accrington—on -the plea of Urgent Necessity, which we discovered -to be the paying of the overdraft which he knew he -must have at his bank, but as the overdraft turned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -out to his great surprise to be some forty pounds, of -course they would not cash his last cheque, and the funds -of the Club shrank to a worthless cheque for twenty -pounds: this last manœuvre gave Squiff, as Freddy -foolishly pointed out to him, another six weeks in which -to pay off his debt to the Club, and a proposal to make -all loans repayable in three days was lost by one vote. -The numbers were equal, all who had borrowed voting -against, and all who were free of debt, for the proposal. -However, as Fatty had the casting vote, and owed the -Club four pounds, the motion was lost. Our attempts -to find a method of putting the Society on its legs again -failed, and we agreed that we must bury it in the depths -of forgetfulness.</p> - -<p>As a gallant attempt to find a solution to a most -pressing question it was very praiseworthy, but as a -working institution it was a regular fiasco. Fatty explained -his subsequent failure in Divvers as the result -of having to settle up the somewhat confused accounts -of the defunct Club; myself, I attribute it to the fact -that he defined Lydia—the purple seller of Thyatira—as -‘a province in Asia Minor.’</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="V">V.<br /> -<span class="smaller">ON THE STRENUOUSNESS OF LIFE.</span></h2> - -<p>It was on a Wednesday morning that I repaired to -the Maison Squiff and found Freddy in a well-worn -blazer perusing a coroneted letter signed ‘Paunbrough,’ -which he silently handed me to read. I discovered that -it was a communication from the noble owner of Coffington -Castle, County Down, enclosing Butler’s bill -with a dirty card attached. The latter enquired in -terms more direct than polite why the hot place Freddy -had been distributing his father’s cards about Oxford, -and stated that he, the noble Earl, was condemned if he -would pay thirty shillings for a bouquet to a low ballet -girl. It concluded with the final slap that Messrs. -Swindell and Rooke, the family solicitors, had instructions -not to pay over another monthly allowance until -they received Butler’s bill receipted. This crushing -communication was pointedly signed ‘Your loving -father,’ and a postscript demanded the return of any -more of his Lordship’s cards which Freddy might have -purloined.</p> - -<p>‘Rather rough,’ I said, ‘but you can go on for another -month anyhow, yesterday was the First.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Not much,’ said Freddy, ‘the governor’s sharper -than you’d think to look at him, and he telegraphed -to the sharks to stop my instalment yesterday.’</p> - -<p>While we were discussing this trying situation, Mrs. -Corker appeared bearing a blue envelope which she -shot into my lap. It was addressed to—</p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>Viscount Gilderdale,</p> - -<p class="indent4">129 St. Aldate’s, Oxford,</p> - -</div> - -<p class="noindent">and so I handed it on to Freddy, who courageously -opened it. The contents proved to be merely an official -confirmation of the noble lord’s own letter, which, as -Freddy ruefully observed, was ‘rather like rubbing it -in.’</p> - -<p>‘Can you pay Butler for me, and then I’ll get my -thirty quidlets?’ he asked.</p> - -<p>‘I haven’t got a penny,’ I replied, ‘but can’t Squiff -supply the needful?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh! he’s worse off than we are; but I’m sure he -wouldn’t mind our taking his silver candlesticks round -to Ranger’s “for one night only,”’ said Frederick. -‘They ought to fetch thirty shillings, and then we shall -get thirty pounds, and twenty to one are good enough -odds for me.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, at any rate,’ I said, ‘Let’s try the Pilot first, -and Accrington.’</p> - -<p>‘Whatever we do, must be done quickly,’ said Freddy, -as he searched frantically for a note-book, ‘I’m in for -Contracts next week, and Anson is heavy on my -chest.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Let’s go along to College,’ I suggested, ‘Accrington’s -working day and night for his second shot at -Mods., so he’s sure to be in.’</p> - -<p>As we reached Cecil’s the Pilot emerged from the -porch carrying Cook’s Commentary on Habakkuk, -and three large red notebooks; he is in for Honour -Theology, but as in a recent essay he explained the -word Gamaliel as meaning ‘the Pavement,’ while -Gabbatha became ‘the lady who died after knitting -coats and garments,’ we fear he is not very far advanced. -Without any preamble we demanded thirty -shillings, but the Pilot, whose money affairs are in -fearful confusion, explained that he had just borrowed -three pounds off his tailor, and could not possibly -lend us anything.</p> - -<p>We accordingly hurried on into College, and found -Accrington surveying two summonses spread out on -Hawkins’ Handbook to Logic, which invaluable work -he was endeavouring to learn by heart before Monday.</p> - -<p>Freddy had just begun ‘Can you lend,’ when his -eye fell upon the blue documents, and the request -died upon his lips.</p> - -<p>‘No, I’m very sorry I can’t,’ said Accrington, ‘can -you?’ But nobody laughed at this; the situation was -altogether too grave.</p> - -<p>It appeared from a perusal of these documents that -Messrs. Hooper, of the High, and Daniel Dickens and -Co., the picture dealers, had taken out a summons -signed by a certain Frank Bolton, Mandatory,—whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -that might be—which bade ‘Stephen Kirkbury -Accrington appear personally or by his proctor at the -Apodyterium of the Convocation House to answer the -plaintiff’s claim.’</p> - -<p>Some paragraphs on the back remarked ‘that if the -debt claimed is more than six years old, that if you were -then or are now a married woman, or have been discharged -under the Bankruptcy Act, notice must be -given three days before the hearing.’</p> - -<p>These parting shots did not appear to give Accrington -any comfort, and he said that he was trying to raise -a loan from the family lawyer. We condoled with -him, and then seeing clearly that there was no hope -for us in that quarter, hastened back to pawn the -candlesticks before Squiff’s return.</p> - -<p>On the stairs of their digs we met Mrs. Corker, who -was, as usual with her during working hours, very -much out of breath, but she managed to pant at -Freddy,</p> - -<p>‘’Ave you seen Mr. O’Roozer, me lord?’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ said Freddy, ‘has he been in?’</p> - -<p>‘O yes, me lord,’ replied the old lady, ‘’e came in -about ’arf an hour ago and asked for your lordship, -’e said as ’ow ’e wanted to see your lordship most -pertickler.’</p> - -<p>‘But about ten minutes ago,’ she continued, now in a -tone of mingled wonder and indignation, ‘as I was -a-goin up these ’ere stairs, I met ’im a comin’ down -with them there ’andsome candlesticks under ’is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> -harm, and when I says, “I’ll clean ’em for yer, Mr. -O’Roozer, if that’s what yer wants,” ’e said, “No -thank yer, Mrs. Corker, I’m afraid nothin’ what you -could do wouldn’t be no use, I think I shall ’ave to -soak them,” and then blessed if ’e didn’t rush out of -the front door an’ get into a cab, silver candlesticks -an’ all, a laughin’ most haffable.’</p> - -<p>There might have been more of these appalling revelations -to follow, but at that moment I caught sight of -Freddy’s face, on which there had settled a blank look -of consternation, and we marched upstairs together, -much sadder if wiser men.</p> - -<p>‘Well, what the deuce we are going to do now, I’ll -be shot if I know,’ he said as we shut the door behind -us. ‘Squiff’s gone and popped the only marketable -commodity in the house, and there are thirty precious -pounds in London simply waiting for me to send for -them.’</p> - -<p>‘I know,’ I said; ‘couldn’t Webster, your old scout -in College, lend you thirty shillings for one day? I’ve -been told that he runs a house at Margate, and is worth -nearly five hundred a year. Some of these College servants -are regular Croesuses.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, that’s not half a bad idea, Martha; in fact it’s -about the only thing we can do; let’s go round and -interview the old bird at once.’</p> - -<p>So saying we descended the well-worn stairs again, -and hurried round to see the mysterious Webster, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -wears a coat like a banker, and always takes front seats -at the best concerts.</p> - -<p>The worthy man readily lent us the needful, and so -that little trouble came to an end.</p> - -<p>Misfortunes, however, never come singly, and only -that evening Reggie and I and the Pilot were progged -in the Hyde, and requested in the politest manner to -call on the Junior Proctor at Gloucester at 9.30 next -morning.</p> - -<p>‘I suppose,’ said the Pilot, mournfully, as we moved -off, ‘that this is a quid-touch, but where my adjectived -quid is to come from I don’t know.’</p> - -<p>‘<i>Je ne sais pas, you don’t sais pas, and he doesn’t sai -pas</i>,’ quoted Reggie.</p> - -<p>‘Freddy gets his oof to-morrow, but certainly not by -nine,’ I said.</p> - -<p>‘Then the only thing to be done is to ask the man to -wait a day, and borrow the money from Freddy when -he gets his cheque,’ remarked the Pilot, cheerfully.</p> - -<p>On the following morning we dropped anchor in the -Gluggins porch at 9.30, and asked for the J.P.’s rooms, -which we found in the well-known row of cottages on -the left of the garden, with three bull-dogs guarding the -door. When our names had been taken, Reggie went -in, and came out smiling after a short interview.</p> - -<p>‘Told me to let him have it by one o’clock,’ muttered -Reggie, as the Pilot passed in. ‘I said I expected a -remittance from my aunt.’</p> - -<p>In a moment the Pilot also returned looking as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -solemn as usual. ‘He got rather angry when I mentioned -a remittance from my aunt, but let me off till -one o’clock,’ he remarked.</p> - -<p>When I was shown in, I found the J.P., a round -and pompous little man, robed and banded, standing -by the table.</p> - -<p>‘I suppose, Mr. Cochrane,’ he began at once, ‘that -you, like the other two gentlemen whom I have just -seen, are expecting a remittance from your aunt.’</p> - -<p>‘No, sir,’ I replied meekly, ‘my great uncle always -attends to these matters, but I am certainly expecting -a remittance from him.’</p> - -<p>This soft answer, instead of turning away the dignitary’s -wrath, caused him to grow purple in the face, -but he controlled his temper very creditably and merely -said,</p> - -<p>‘Very well, Mr. Cochrane, I give you till one o’clock, -but if the twenty shillings are not in my hands by that -time I shall communicate with your Provost and make -matters unpleasant for you, er—good morning.’</p> - -<p>I joined the other two, and Reggie returned with me -to breakfast, but the Pilot, who had to attend the Dean’s -lecture at ten, put off his meal till eleven.</p> - -<p>As we made our way through the buttered eggs it -became more and more clear that Reggie had a grievance, -and at last it came out.</p> - -<p>‘Here am I, a working man’—this is where I coughed, -but Reggie did not appear to notice it—‘with two lectures -between now and lunch, both of which I am compelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -to cut because an unfeeling Proctor is dunning -me for a pound, which I must borrow from some one -before one o’clock.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, it is very hard,’ I agreed. ‘But still I believe -you have occasionally steeled your heart to cut a lecture -even when there has been no Proctor in the background, -and after all he can’t help it, it’s his business; I daresay -if you knew him you’d find that he smoked a meerschaum -and swore very much like other people.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I know, that’s all right,’ said Reggie, who never -likes to pursue an argument after he has got his own -particular complaint off his chest, ‘we’ll wait for the -Pilot to have his brekker and then go round to see -Freddy.’</p> - -<p>‘He’s sure to have his cheque by then,’ I said, ‘and -of course he’ll lend us the wherewithal.’</p> - -<p>The Pilot finished breakfast at 11.20 precisely, and -then after carefully perusing the current society divorce -case, we made our way to St. Aldate’s.</p> - -<p>We found Freddy crouching in an arm-chair murmuring -to himself passages from Anson, and instantly demanded -if the money had arrived.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I dare say it’ll come some time to-day,’ said -Freddy, crossly, and muttered to himself, ‘Agents of -Necessity.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s no earthly good,’ replied the Pilot, ‘we must -find three quid by one o’clock and the oof-tree bears no -fruit at this time of year.’</p> - -<p>‘What’s the money for?’ demanded Freddy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Progged in the “Shades,”’ responded Reggie laconically, -‘and you are going to pay the fine.’</p> - -<p>‘I didn’t know it before,’ Freddy answered, ‘but of -course if the money comes in time it’s yours.’</p> - -<p>‘We must manage it somehow,’ I said, ‘when’s the -next post?’</p> - -<p>‘Ring and ask the Corker, I don’t know.’</p> - -<p>‘Which it sometimes comes at a quarter to one, and -sometimes at ’arf past,’ said the old lady on being interrogated.</p> - -<p>When he heard this the Pilot collapsed heavily into -an arm-chair, while Freddy, who did not yet fully appreciate -the gravity of the situation, went upstairs to search -for a note-book in the other sitting-room.</p> - -<p>Soon after he had left the room a raucous voice was -heard downstairs enquiring for Milord Gilderdale, and -the Corker appeared to be engaged in an animated discussion -with the owner thereof.</p> - -<p>From two heavy thumps on the ceiling I gathered that -Freddy had heard the caller’s voice and did not desire to -interview him.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Corker now appeared, and after expressing surprise -at Freddy’s absence, asked me to interview, and -if possible dispose of ‘that there houtrageous man in -the ’all.’</p> - -<p>On descending I found a corpulent man, with a rubicund -face and no perceptible chin, standing with a sheaf -of documents in his hand.</p> - -<p>‘Good mornin’, sir,’ he said, ‘Hi come from Dopin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -and Bleeder’s the ’orse-dealers, and I’ve got a little bill -’ere for yer, honly a matter of fifteen pounds, as I’ll -trouble you to settle.’</p> - -<p>‘Doping and Bleeder,’ I murmured, ‘I don’t know the -people.’</p> - -<p>‘Now look ’ere, sir,’ he said with an expression which -betokened sorrow rather than anger, ‘none o’ these little -games, you’re Lord Gilderdale, haren’t you?’</p> - -<p>‘Certainly not,’ I replied crossly, ‘next time perhaps -you will make sure of whom you are talking to before you -descend to impertinence, my man; little games indeed.’</p> - -<p>‘Ho, then you’re the O’Roozer,’ he remarked, ‘I’ve -got a bill for you for twenty-three pounds seventeen -and fourpence.’</p> - -<p>‘What’s the fourpence for?’ I queried, but by this time -the portly gentleman was getting somewhat angry.</p> - -<p>‘Never yer mind, sir, it’s for value received, hand -given,’ he said, ‘an’ our Mr. Bleeder says as ’ow ’e -’opes you’ll see your way to lettin’ ’im ’ave the money -this week, or ’e’ll ’ave to take proceedings, which is -always most repugnant both for you and hus.’</p> - -<p>‘Now you’ve got that off your chest, you can go,’ -I said, ‘I’m not Mr. O’Rossa nor am I Lord Gilderdale. -Good-day.’</p> - -<p>But the worthy representative of Messrs. Doping and -Bleeder was not so easily disposed of.</p> - -<p>‘Now look ’ere,’ he said, ‘Hi believe that it’s hall a -bloomin’ ’oax, if yer aint Wiscount Gilderdale, an’ yer -hain’t the Ho Roozer ’oo the blazes are yer?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> - -<p>At this stage of the proceedings I opened the door -and beckoned O.P. 281, who was lounging against the -wall of the Town Hall opposite, to advance.</p> - -<p>‘I give this person into custody,’ I began, but this -proved sufficient, the man from D. and B.’s had fled -with unprecedented speed, and so after pouring palm -oil into the ever-ready hand of the worthy officer, I -went upstairs.</p> - -<p>I found the other three gazing anxiously at the clock, -which pointed to a quarter to one, and appeared to be -advancing terribly quickly.</p> - -<p>‘Hadn’t we better call a cab,’ said the Pilot; ‘supposing -the oof does turn up about five to, we shall -have to drive to the bank before we can go to the Proctor.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, my aunt, I’d never thought of that,’ said -Reggie, ‘It’ll take fully another minute and a quarter, -say even one and a half, and minutes are exceptionally -precious just now.’</p> - -<p>At this juncture the Corker, who was as excited as -anybody, rushed breathlessly into the room and gasped, -‘The postman ’as just left Thomas,’ me lord, an’ ’e’ll be -’ere in a minute.’</p> - -<p>‘No, by Jingo, that’s ripping,’ cried Freddy, ‘we must -be getting off then,’ and as he spoke we all rushed downstairs -together.</p> - -<p>While we were picking our caps out of the collection -in the hall, the Pilot, who always acts the part of Job’s -comforter on these occasions, remarked slowly, ‘I say, -what shall we do if the draft doesn’t come?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘We shan’t do anything, we shall be done,’ I said.</p> - -<p>‘Well, anyhow, here’s the postman and we shall know -our fate,’ put in Freddy running to the door, as footsteps -shuffled on the pavement outside. He threw it open, -and clutched a packet of letters from the hands of the -postman, and then for the first time for many a long -day, he fearlessly tore open a long blue envelope, extracting -a letter which he dropped on the floor, and a -cheque for thirty pounds, which he carefully examined.</p> - -<p>We then got into Morgan’s hansom and drove at an -alarming speed to the Bank, but to our horror we found -the doors closed when we got there, and the grey-haired -man, who was sweeping the steps outside, informed us, -what we ought to have remembered, that the bank shuts -at one o’clock on Thursdays, and it was just striking the -hour on Carfax.</p> - -<p>‘Gloucester,’ shrieked Freddy, as we bundled into -the cab, and shot down the Corn at a fearful rate in -the direction of Gluggins. The black clock over the -archway pointed to four minutes past as we got out, -I clutching the draft, while Freddy waited in the cab, -discussing the prospects of the National with Morgan -through the trap in the roof.</p> - -<p>The J.P. received us with a frown, and remarked -coldly, ‘Punctuality is the politeness of princes, Mr. -Arlington.’</p> - -<p>‘I am afraid we put our trust in postmen, not princes,’ -replied Reggie; ‘and ours was late this morning; however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -if you wouldn’t mind changing this cheque, sir, -we’re ready to pay you.’</p> - -<p>‘Really, sir, your conduct in this matter is most surprising,’ -said the Proctor; ‘first you come here unpunctually, -and now you offer me a large cheque on -behalf of yourself and your companions, whom I am -afraid are no better than you are.’</p> - -<p>‘But the bank is closed,’ put in Reggie.</p> - -<p>‘How do you mean the bank is closed, Mr. Arlington?’</p> - -<p>‘It’s Thursday, sir,’ chimed in the Pilot.</p> - -<p>‘Well, Mr. Meredith, I don’t see, if the bank closes at -one o’clock, why you didn’t go there before.’</p> - -<p>‘But Freddy’s—I mean Lord Gilderdale’s—cheque -didn’t arrive till one o’clock,’ said Reggie.</p> - -<p>‘I fail to understand what connection Lord Gilderdale -has with this matter,’ said the Proctor.</p> - -<p>‘Oh,’ said Reggie, ‘none of us had any money just at -present, but we knew Gilderdale expected a cheque from -his solicitors this morning, and he promised to lend us -a sovereign each.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, then, I am really fining Lord Gilderdale for your -delinquencies; this is a very fine situation, Mr. Arlington,’ -said the Proctor, with a nearer approach to geniality -than we had hitherto seen.</p> - -<p>‘Well, sir, hardly that,’ I put in; ‘you see all three -of us really are expecting remittances of our own as we -told you this morning, but as Lord Gilderdale’s arrived -before any of ours he very kindly lent us three pounds.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Very well then, gentlemen,’ said the Proctor, ‘I don’t -know that this arrangement is quite regular, or that it -would exactly meet with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor, -but after all you have produced the amount of -your fines, and it is no business of mine to enquire how -you obtained that amount. I am sorry to say that I believed -at first that your slight unpunctuality was due to -disrespect, and that you were trying to do what I believe -the present generation would call “pulling my leg” over -these cheques, but I see that I misjudged you, and shall -ask you to bring the money at ten to-morrow. Good -morning, Mr. Arlington; good morning, gentlemen, -good morning,’ and so saying the little man collapsed -into his arm-chair, while we departed on our way more -or less rejoicing.</p> - -<p>Freddy, to whom we communicated the result of the -interview, soothed our consciences with the very plausible, -if somewhat immoral, argument:</p> - -<p>‘It don’t do to give that sort of bird too much truth -all in a lump, he ain’t accustomed to it; besides, if you -start bringin’ him up on it, he’ll always expect it.’</p> - -<p>On our return to 129 St. Aldate’s we took Squiff to -task severely for daring to dispose of his own silver -candlesticks on the previous day; as Freddy remarked, -‘What are things coming to when a man can do as he -likes with his own property?’</p> - -<p>‘I know where things are going to,’ responded Squiff, -‘and that is to Ranger’s in Beerage Street, I’ve had a -breezy time lately; thank heaven term is nearly over.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Ditto, ditto,’ remarked the Pilot mournfully; ‘if one -looks back at the end of any term, there always seem -to be so many things which one might have done and -hasn’t; and such a lot of entirely unnecessary things -which have come off most successfully. When I remember -that, out of 751 allotted pages of Cook’s Commentary -on Habakkuk, I have read exactly 57, the -hollowness of life comes upon me with crushing reality.’</p> - -<p>‘Poor old Pilot,’ laughed Squiff, ‘he’s got “the recollections” -badly.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall shortly have “the Collections” much worse,’ -replied the Pilot.</p> - -<p>‘Thank goodness,’ remarked Reggie fervently, ‘that -terminal reports are not sent home to our “parents -or guardians” from this University; what awful shocks -they’d get.’</p> - -<p>‘A printed record of gate-sconces and fines during -residence should be given to every one on their departure, -and the number of windows broken by the future -B.A. should be certified by the Provost,’ I said.</p> - -<p>‘Or even better,’ replied the Pilot, ‘a record of -theatres attended, with musical comedies marked in -red, should be sent to every Dean at the end of each -term, by the theatre people.’</p> - -<p>‘Great Scott, what revelations there’d be; why, some -of the most respectable people would lose their characters -at once. Poor old de Beresford, who went six -times to “San Toy” and seven to “Florodora,” is supposed -to be a model character.’ This from Reggie.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Chiefly,’ I remarked, ‘because he never cuts the Dean -and always pays the Treasurer “the exact amount of his -battels, not requiring change,” see College Rules.’</p> - -<p>‘If we could all acquire good reputations as easily, -how happy we should be,’ murmured the Pilot pensively; -‘somehow I never have been able to get the -authorities to take me seriously.’</p> - -<p>‘You must start by taking yourself seriously,’ replied -Freddy, ‘but it all shows how little our Dons really -know about us. Look at old von Graussman, noisy -and addicted to beer, but hard-working and conscientious. -His character among the Dons is “lazy, rowdy, -and conscienceless”: you know after a row he’s always -sent for first. Then take, as I said before, de Beresford, -or Accrington, who conceals behind a constant attendance -at early chapel and a habit of going about with -a logic book in his hand, the most villainous and demoniacal -mind and a rooted hatred of all in authority; -he’s at the bottom of most ructions in College.’</p> - -<p>‘It’s quite true,’ I said, ‘I am afraid on the whole -we’re a bad and unvirtuous lot.’</p> - -<p>‘Looking back on the past term, I see,’ remarked -the Pilot pointing out of window, ‘a blue haze over -everything; I can dimly descry several theatres, three -twenty-firsters, many large dinners, four Saturday -nights, and a couple of outings to town; these, with -a slight admixture of lectures and a row in College, -constitutes the employment of most of us for the last -term; one or two have had schools, but for the rest -this is “le monde ou l’on s’amuse.”’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘True, O King,’ said Squiff, ‘but I am going to turn -you all out now, as I’ve got to pack. I’ve got leave to -go down to-morrow: I suppose, by-the-bye, I shall see -you all in town on Saturday at the Rugger Match.’</p> - -<p>‘If not at it, at least afterwards,’ I said; ‘we’ll say the -Royal Leicester for choice, I think, and supper at—?’</p> - -<p>‘We can settle that later; you must go now,’ said -Squiff hastily, and so we departed, promising to speed -the O’Rossa on his way at the station. The chronicles -of the Rugger Match, and what happened after it, and -before it, and how we all got to it, require a fresh chapter -and a new pen.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="VI">VI.<br /> -<span class="smaller">RUGGER NIGHT.</span></h2> - -<p>It was Friday, the day before the Rugger Match, and -every one was considering how to get away, as the -College Collections were going on all the morning, and -the match began at two o’clock. Those who had been -in the Schools, of course, had no difficulty in getting -leave; but the excuses offered by the rest were more -numerous than truthful. The number of dentists with -whom urgent appointments had been made was simply -phenomenal, while several men had relatives who had -chosen that exact day to leave for the Riviera, or to -return from South Africa. The rush by the 12.52, which -arrived almost in time for the match, was unprecedented. -Freddy, who had been in for a Viva that morning, -arrived at the station just before the train started, with -a shirt in his coat pocket, and two ties and a collar -rolled up in a copy of the <i>Daily Mail</i>. He also brought -two bags stuffed with unnecessary things, bulging and -unlocked; he is, I think, the most untidy person in -Oxford. The Pilot, Reggie, de Beresford, Accrington -and I were waiting for him on the platform; and de B. -had just offered five to one against his turning up, but, -unfortunately no one had taken him, owing to Freddy’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -known unpunctuality. We secured by the use of palm-oil, -a carriage to ourselves, and played poker on the way -up. We finished soon after Reading, and then the -Pilot, who had been in an utterly penniless condition -for two days previously, explained for our benefit how -he had secured the necessary funds for this expedition.</p> - -<p>‘You know,’ he began, ‘that picture “The Golden -Dream,” by Dicksee; well, I bought that at Gill and -Manser’s in the Corn, when I came up, and it cost me -four guineas. Since then the value of the thing has -gone up, and I got nearly seven pounds for it when I -sold it to Pickington and Bluster. So I kept the fiver -for this little trip; and sent the other people something -on account.’</p> - -<p>‘How did you know the thing would go up?’ inquired -Freddy.</p> - -<p>‘I didn’t,’ replied the Pilot. ‘But I knew it wouldn’t -go down.’</p> - -<p>On our arrival at Paddington we separated for various -destinations: Freddy and I drove straight to Queen’s -to meet Squiff who had been up overnight, and found -the match had already started; so we made for our seats -and proceeded to enjoy the game. It was an excellent -fight, but resulted in a draw, which I always consider -most unsatisfactory. However, the last ten minutes -were so hard fought, and the relief so great, that Squiff, -when the whistle was blown, out of pure joy planted -his fist through the topper of an elderly and portly -person with a gold chain, who was sitting in front; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -old boy (who had been dancing on one leg and gurgling -‘Cambridge’ loudly) took no notice, but continued to -yell, so we left him, and squeezed our way out. I got -into a cab with Freddy and Squiff, and drove off to the -‘Cabin’ for tea.</p> - -<p>‘Poor old Verimisti, who came to town with me -yesterday, isn’t up yet,’ Squiff informed us; ‘he was -very tired last night, didn’t arrive at the ‘Knavesmire’ till -4.30 a.m., and then gave the cabby sixpence and expected -him to be satisfied. I had to come down in jimmies, -pay the cabby, and help him to disembark. When I -looked him up this morning he was having his fourth -Laager, and at the mere mention of ham he turned -a rich yellow.’</p> - -<p>‘I gather, we’re all dining at the ‘Sphere’ at 7.30,’ -I said, ‘we shall be the old crew plus Verimisti (if he’s -well enough to come) and de Beresford. Is Fatty up?’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ answered Freddy, ‘Fatty’s got a wealthy uncle -in town who insisted on seeing the Bodleian and James’ -Gardens this afternoon; but he’s going to shunt the old -man at five, and coming up ready dressed by the 5.50.’</p> - -<p>‘I shall go back and unpack after tea,’ I said, ‘where -are the others staying?’</p> - -<p>‘We’re at the Knavesmire,’ replied Squiff, ‘but von -Graussman, and the Pilot and Reggie are at the Haverstock, -while de Beresford and Accrington are doing -themselves proud at the Great Trafalgar.’</p> - -<p>The Cabin was crowded, but after some time we got -a table, but no chairs, so I leaned against the wall,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -while Freddy sat on Squiff’s knee. This seemed to -cause some surprise, until we found ourselves obliged -to give our only seat to a lady who was standing, and -as we couldn’t sit on the floor we left hurriedly and -tealess. Two shillings-worth all round at the American -bar at the ‘Cri’ seemed to revive us wonderfully, and -after this it was time to dress, so we hurried home to -the Knavesmire. When we had finished we found -Verimisti painfully dressing, assisted by the boots, and -looking very yellow about the gills.</p> - -<p>‘Oh! Freddy,’ he cried when he saw us, ‘I have my -tongue so like sulphur, and have my twelfth laager just -drunk, and still thirsty am I!’</p> - -<p>We both laughed most unfeelingly, and after he had -bathed his aching brow in cold water, led him gently -downstairs, and, having packed ourselves into two -hansoms, made for the Sphere, which we reached, -according to our invariable custom, ten minutes late.</p> - -<p>We found the rest of the party already assembled in -the big hall, and made our way to a table for ten which -had been reserved for us. The whole family, especially -von Graussman, were in a highly excitable state, and -the stirring selections of cake-walks and musical comedies -that were played by the band caused some of the -parties who were dining in the room to perform most -extraordinary antics. A popular Sousa march was -accompanied by clapping of hands, while ‘Sammy’ was -sung by the entire company.</p> - -<p>‘Well! here’s confusion to the Examiners,’ said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -Freddy, as he drained his glass after the fish; and -when Freddy begins drinking—confusion or otherwise—after -the fish, I know what is likely to ensue. Freddy -had also just been ploughed in Contracts.</p> - -<p>‘To ’Ell mit dem,’ added von Graussman, who had -missed Law Prelim. again.</p> - -<p>These sentiments having been duly honoured, we -turned our attention to ‘Ponichets de Volaille,’ which -Verimisti, who had got through a quart of moselle cup -on his own, insisted on eating with a table-spoon.</p> - -<p>‘There’ll be quite a clearance next term, I’m afraid,’ -remarked Squiff; ‘such a number of the Unregenerate -have failed in Law Prelim. or Mods., and they’re sure -to be sent down.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, I was gone to drive mit a gountry vicar, next -week,’ remarked von Graussman pensively, ‘and, oh! -but the dullnesses vos ’orrible. Dere vos only von -publig-house vour miles away, and dat they closes at ten -hours. But,’ he added triumphantly, ‘I vos not a -Brotestant, and I do not rise for der service at eight -hours morning.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, anyhow, we’ll make things hum in the summer,’ -said Freddy; ‘it’ll be my last term, and Squiff’s and -Reggie’s and several others, so we must create an -impression, and a good one if possible, before we leave -the ’Varsity.’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t try and make an impression on the pavement -outside the Royal Leicester to-night,’ said de Beresford<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -mockingly, ‘it’s asphalt and very hard. I know,’ he -added feelingly, ‘I’ve tried it.’</p> - -<p>‘Anyhow, let’s make this a record night,’ said Accrington, -who bubbled with excitement.</p> - -<p>This sentiment met with a cordial reception. Verimisti -rose carefully from the table and commenced a long -and rambling speech which was ended by the arrival of -what the Pilot somewhat coarsely calls ‘The Settler.’ -Its real name is Ponche Romaine, and it acts as an -appetiser, enabling one to begin again hungry on the -second part of the dinner. This proceeded somewhat -more rapidly, as we found it was getting late. We -honoured several toasts, including ‘Conspuez les dons’ -from Verimisti, ‘Hoch der Kaiser!’ from von Graussman, -and ‘The Unregenerate’ from Freddy, and then -rather unsteadily the party made its way to the cloak-room, -and got into its outer garments.</p> - -<p>A slight sensation was caused by Squiff kissing the -girl who sold buttonholes in the entrance hall, while -Verimisti’s attempt to embrace the stately official outside -caused that personage both surprise and annoyance.</p> - -<p>The arrival of the party at the Leicester was accompanied -by much noise, and loud cheers on the part of several other -parties who were also disembarking. As we went up -the steps, somebody clutched my arm, and turning round -I found it was Blandford of Barrabas’.</p> - -<p>‘Hullo,’ I said, ‘are you coming in?’</p> - -<p>‘That’s the question,’ he replied. It appeared that he -had already been thrown out, but wanted to come in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -with our party again. ‘If I cram my hat down on my -nose, and button up my coat, I’m sure they’ll pass me; -I only want you to say I belong to you.’</p> - -<p>‘I’ll try,’ I said dubiously, and we walked on to the -barrier where I presented our ticket for Box 10 and our -party passed in, accompanied by the audible comments -of one of the officials on the size of the party. De -Beresford, who came last, was stopped and had to take -a five-bob ticket, for, as the man said, ‘Hi’ve passed hin -nine gents for that borx already, and hits only meant to -’old six or seving.’</p> - -<p>The scene within, well, everybody must know it; the -‘five-bob ring’ was absolutely full, ’Varsity men and -members of the tender sex being nearly equal in number.</p> - -<p>As we passed along to our box a person with a purple -nose and a battered top-hat was singing about the -brokers, and this was about all we saw of the performance -that evening. We left our hats and coats in the -box and then sallied out in a body in search of spirits -both kindred and otherwise.</p> - -<p>Owing to the very crowded state of the promenade -we were unable to hold together, and I soon found myself -sandwiched between Verimisti and von Graussman -bound for an adjacent bar. As we were turning into -the desired haven the Italian observed a small notice -saying ‘No ladies served in this bar,’ and immediately -sheered off with a pained expression on his very expressive -face.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘We are not ladies, but all the identical we cannot -without female society be,’ he remarked in an injured -tone and hustled us rapidly on to the passage at the -further end of the promenade, where a uniformed official -gave us tickets outside the big bar.</p> - -<p>This was a scene of indescribable confusion, and as -we entered two porters came forward leading between -them a well-known member of the Cambridge team. -He was very talkative, but his eloquence did not appear -to move his captors in the least degree, possibly because -none of his remarks were at all intelligible. After them -there followed several more Cambridge blues and an -elderly gentleman with a bucolic face who appeared to -be very irate. The procession passed us with some -speed, but we subsequently found the talkative Cantab -singing a song on the floor of another bar, and discovered -that this was due to the influence of the bucolic -gentleman who was an old ’Varsity man and a legal -luminary of very great brilliancy.</p> - -<p>The front of the bar itself was hidden by two lines of -’Varsity men, nearly all asking for different things but -all at the same time. However, I soon found a suitable -inlet, and all was going well with us when one of the -fair nymphs behind the bar unfortunately shot von -Graussman in the nose with a lemonade or soda cork, -producing an entirely unexpected effect.</p> - -<p>The German fell into the lap of a lady sitting close -behind exclaiming ‘Ach? I vos mortified.’ Her cloak -covered his head for a moment, but extricating himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -he tendered her his admission-ticket, and begged her in -very broken English to let him out of the cloak-room. -To his impassioned appeal she replied very volubly in -German, and an affecting scene ensued when he fell -upon her neck, and loudly claimed her as his long-lost -mother. Within the space of two minutes a large and -noisy crowd had gathered round, and were hoarsely -cheering, so it was some time before Verimisti and I -could push our way through. When we did get to the -front, the lady was assuring von Graussman in a penetrating -whisper, that though she was not his mother, -she was willing to be his wife.</p> - -<p>Von Graussman, whose impressionable heart was -once captured in Buda Pesth and only redeemed at considerable -expense, sheered off immediately, and confidentially -informed us afterwards that ‘she vos a dam -dangerous woman.’</p> - -<p>Having made a vain attempt to approach the bar -again, we fought our way back to the promenade, and -discovered that ‘Mephisto’ was about to loop the loop. -As everyone was anxious to see this, we regained our -box, which we found crowded to suffocation, and by -standing on chairs at the back got a view of the exciting -item. Freddy, who having leant against the electric -bell and ordered drinks round, had gone away and forgotten -to pay, could not be found; so Verimisti shelled -out, and after drinking his health, we moved out again. -I may mention that this was the only item on the programme -of which I have any recollection, as soon afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -all became dim for a short time, and I only -revived in the further bar with Freddy and Accrington -beside me. In the meanwhile it appears that Squiff and -de Beresford, both of whom were ‘among the breakers,’ -had made a determined attempt to throw one of the -chuckers-out downstairs, and were now repenting their -mistake in the cool air of Leicester Square; but they -subsequently returned in a very dishevelled condition -‘by some secret way known to all but themselves.’</p> - -<p>I am told that I had begun to make skilful arrangements -for looping the loop with the help of two round -topped tables, when a stalwart official requested Squiff -and de Beresford to calm me down, which they had -succeeded in doing with a handkerchief soaked in soda-water.</p> - -<p>As soon as my sight was thoroughly restored we -returned to the box, but did not feel well enough to -take any interest in the performance.</p> - -<p>Moreover, just at that moment we were alarmed by -thunderous crashes on the door which Blandford hastily -opened, and Verimisti rushed in followed by a heated and -indignant official; he rushed to the front of the box and -began to climb out, endeavouring to drop into the stalls, -explaining meanwhile that he ‘must escape dese awful -mens in uneform who put themselves upon my nerve.’</p> - -<p>He became very indignant when Accrington caught -him by the collar, and, in his subsequent struggles to -escape, his dress coat was ripped up astern from top to -bottom and part of his braces gave way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> - -<p>The functionary who had chased him demanded his -immediate expulsion, but when Reggie explained that -he belonged to our box he retired peacefully after -accepting a gin-cocktail that had grown upon the -floor by some mysterious means.</p> - -<p>As the door closed upon the officer, the voice of -Fatty was heard from underneath a pile of coats in -the corner.</p> - -<p>‘I don’t know what is happening,’ he remarked plaintively, -‘but if somebody will fetch me an Angostura and -ginger-beer and pay for it, I shall be quite happy for -half-an-hour.’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t be an ass,’ said Freddy, who was steadying -himself by a clothes peg, ‘who is to fetch you anything; -besides, if they did, do you suppose they’d get it here -in safety?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ put in Blandford, ‘the person in pink plush -with white extremities lost seven drinks off his tray on -the way to the next box just now.’</p> - -<p>Here a lady, whose only known name was Girlie, -and who had been dumped down in the box by some -member of our party who had completely forgotten her, -demanded a sherry and bitters.</p> - -<p>‘Who’s that?’ remarked Freddy unsteadily, as he let -go one hat peg and caught another after two vain -efforts. ‘Whashedoinere?’</p> - -<p>‘Can’t imagine,’ replied Fatty; and then Freddy -having incautiously lost his grip on his sole means of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -support and fallen against the bell, the conversation -was terminated by the appearance of the waiter.</p> - -<p>‘This lady,’ said Accrington to the waiter, ‘wants to -stand us drinks all round.’</p> - -<p>Girlie then rose and commenced a protest which was -more forcible than polite; but Accrington waved her -aside with a regal gesture.</p> - -<p>‘I daresay you didn’t mean to say so m’dear,’ he -added, ‘but there are somanyqueerpeopleretnight.’</p> - -<p>After the offended Girlie had left the box, Fatty was -just proceeding to order the terrible mixture dear to his -heart, when Freddy addressed the waiter as ‘Puddle -darling,’ and enquired if he was going to Hardtopp-on-Sands -for the mixed bathing.</p> - -<p>The waiter’s reply was to slam the door from the -outside, and Fatty’s ginger-beered Angostura vanished -into the dim and distant future.</p> - -<p>At this moment the last turn concluded, and the -orchestra gave tongue to the National Anthem, which -was caught up vigorously in all parts of the house.</p> - -<p>It took us quite a quarter of an hour to collect our -party, but when this had been done we made hastily for -Jacques’ to make sure of getting something to eat and -drink before closing time. Blandford, who belongs to -the New Lyric, invited the whole party to sup there, -but I dissuaded him; and as we afterwards found that -the Club was closed indefinitely, my wisdom was -justified. Crossing the Circus we lost Reggie; who -subsequently scandalised the habitués of the Great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -Trafalgar by reappearing about 11.30 next morning -in evening dress with an improbable tale of a cousin -from Peckham Rye, who had taken him in for the night.</p> - -<p>At the entrance to the Restaurant, Freddy sighted an -awful looking object with an eye-glass, which subsequently -caused him much perturbation. An appeal -to the presiding genius of the lobster bar to have the -offensive person removed proved unavailing, and so we -made for the supper room endeavouring to forget his -glassy eye and pinched waist. Since it was no longer -as early as it had been, the room was nearly full, each -table being occupied by one or more young gentlemen -enjoying assorted confectionery. Before we had time -to do anything a fight between two ladies, late of -Hamburg, but now of Aphrodite Mansions, according -to the waiter, engrossed our attention. The subject of -dispute was a weak-looking little man with pince-nez -who gazed helplessly at the combatants, evidently -wondering if his fate would be that of the baby in the -case adjudicated by the late Solomon of Jerusalem! -The end came quite suddenly, for a herculean official -unobstrusively removed the two ladies, leaving the poor -little man to consume a double portion of rum omelette -in solitude.</p> - -<p>By running two tables together we managed to keep -our party united, and an invaluable waiter who appeared -to know our wants by instinct, dumped down several -dishes of devilled kidneys and two magnums of the -best, which were consumed as though none of us had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -had a meal for a week. We were doing very nicely, -thank you, and Freddy and Fatty had already fallen -into a comatose condition when the room was electrified -by the appearance of Ironsides of Tydvil carrying the -offensive eye-glass person upside down by one leg. -Several waiters clung unheeded to his trousers, and the -manager followed giving vent to frenzied ejaculations. -The creature’s disengaged leg had only just collided -with the head waiter’s face, and swept three glasses off -a buffet when the lights went out, and simultaneously -a piece of grilled haddock found a lodgement in my eye. -Those in authority raised a melancholy chorus of ‘time, -gentlemen, please,’ with a foreign accent, and Freddy, -having tucked a magnum under each arm, led the procession -to the door, supported by Accrington with the -bill pinned on to his coat-tail.</p> - -<p>The subsequent adventures of the party were too -varied to be described in full, with the exception of -Fatty, whom we sent straight back to the hotel in -a hansom, and who was discovered by the charwoman -at 6.30 asleep under the billiard table.</p> - -<p>The party that breakfasted at the Great Trafalgar -next morning about lunch-time was reduced in number -and unusually thoughtful; the latter, partly because it -is extremely difficult to raise money in London on -Sunday, and partly owing to the frequent lubrication -on the previous evening. Freddy had already left by -the Holyhead express for Coffington Castle, Co. Down. -In the brief message left with the night porter for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -Squiff, he explained that he had been to see the sunrise -from Notting Hill, and had only just had time to fetch -his luggage. Von Graussman and de Beresford, who -had slept in an hotel in New Oxford Street, left by the -Pullman train at 11.0 for Brighton to recruit, as they -said they had both had too much pastry the night before. -All traces had been entirely lost of Blandford; it is only -known that he arrived home three days later with a -broken bowler and a couple of ladies’ cloak-room tickets, -and went to bed for several days. The rest of us returned -to Oxford to pack and go through Vivas. I -think I endorse the opinion of Fatty, who afterwards -remarked that ‘The wicked flourish like a green bay -tree, though they much prefer the dew of Glenlivet to -that of Hermon.’</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="VII">VII.<br /> -<span class="smaller">HOW WE RAGGED THE SUBURBAN.</span></h2> - -<p>Owing to the awful scenes on the last night of the -‘Cannibal Girl,’ musical comedies had become exceedingly -unpopular with the authorities, and so we had to -rely upon the Suburban for what Squiff calls ‘an occasional -divarsion.’</p> - -<p>It all began with the Fresher’s lunch in Wykeham’s. -The Fresher is exceedingly fresh for, well, for a fresher, -and his lunch, like the Miller’s daughter, ‘was fresher -still.’ The party was a genial one, though, with the -exception of Reggie and Accrington, most of the sportsmen -present were recruited from circles outside that of -the Elect. I regret to say that I arrived last of all, but -then I generally do. I don’t think any of the best people -would know me now if I came in first to a public function; -they’d think it was my double.</p> - -<p>When I entered the Fresher’s room I found Lord St. -Ronots and another St. Union’s man called Hawkes, -Downey of Lichfield, and a certain Italian Count by the -name of Imarisa. Reggie and Accrington had also come -in, but as they were busily engaged playing different -tunes upon the same piano, I do not include them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -among the respectable people. As we commenced -operations upon the inevitable lobster salad, and the -Fresher succeeded in inducing his scout, who had three -other parties on the staircase, to attend to us for fully -two consecutive minutes, St. Ronots remarked that the -panto at the Suburban was not covered with dust to -any appreciable extent, which for St. Ronots, and still -more for the Suburban, is a great concession. Downey -said that he intended going to see the show, and when -Reggie in his usual charming way mentioned that I was -going with him and several other people, I began to -realise that most of the very best would patronise the -Suburban that night. We decided to make a circular -tour of the ancient and moth-eaten city after lunch for -the purpose of beating up recruits, but meanwhile we -were perforce constrained to turn our attention to the -‘savoury viands’—as the late W. Shakespeare would -probably have said.</p> - -<p>There was no lack of incident to vary the monotony -of mere eating, for the Fresher persisted in consuming -noxious Virginian cigarettes between each dish, while -Reggie accompanied every entry of the scout by martial -airs upon the piano. It may perhaps be as well to mention -that this did not necessitate any exceptional exertion -on Reggie’s part, or he would certainly never have done -it, but he merely leant back in his chair and played the -piano with ease, the dimensions of the Fresher’s apartment -being somewhat restricted.</p> - -<p>After lunch was over we all went round in a body to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -St. Union’s and other Colleges in search of joyful souls -to join us for the evening’s jaunt, and while passing -through the Corn on our way to Thomas’, we met Elgar -of King’s and two titled foreigners, who informed us -that they were ‘looking for trouble.’ This sounded -promising, and so we enlisted their services immediately -and invited them to coffee at our digs after dinner. We -extended a like invitation to most of the other people we -met that afternoon, and then hastened back to the Pilot-House—as -Reggie now calls our establishment—to order -a festive little dinner.</p> - -<p>Our dinner party was a small one. There were only -de Beresford, Evelyn, and Farmborough, besides our -three selves, but the real fun began when Elgar turned -up about half-past seven with an old pair of pyjamas, -which he proceeded to don, and then treated us to a -wild breakdown, regardless of the surrounding crockery -and the unfortunate Mary Ellen, who waited upon us -in fear and trembling. As Mrs. McNab often says to -the Pilot, ‘It ain’t you three gentlemen what makes all -the rampagingses, but it’s them there harum scarum -friends of yours,’ which only shows how skilfully we -conceal our little weaknesses from the powers below, -who are in this case the Dig-Master and his wife. -When we reached the coffee stage our little party increased -very rapidly. Many of the gentlemen assembled -appeared to find coffee insipid, and it was at this -juncture that I discovered a bottle of Chartreuse in the -cellarette, which I seized with the intention of serving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -out a few liqueurs, but there was no need for thimble -glasses, as Stanhope and Freddy took their allowance -in coffee, Squiff mixed his with champagne in equal -proportions, while Elgar, who couldn’t find anything -smaller, lapped up a half tumbler of the fire-water -with much pomp. Finding that the bottle was quite -empty I went to the window to see if any more visitors -were in sight, and beheld for the first time an enormous -array of cabs stretching for quite a healthy distance up -and down the High. As the liquid refreshment was -completely exhausted and it was growing late, I suggested -an adjournment to the Suburban, and we left for -that festive old barn in a body, three men in each hansom. -On our arrival we soon skipped out and arranged -to owe our cab fares, but taking tickets was a slower -affair. The ticket office at the Suburban is modelled -exactly upon those at railway stations, that is to say, -it is placed so as to present the minimum of accessibility -with the maximum of draught, but by dint of a -little perseverance we eventually obtained two dozen -stalls and streamed along the passage to the door of the -House. When we got inside we were astonished to find -more than a hundred Undergrads, instead of the usual -contingent of anything from five to half-a-dozen, and -this crowding unfortunately compelled us to divide our -party. We exchanged friendly greetings with the -various people known to us, and placed Elgar in an -unobtrusive seat where he would not readily catch the -Manager’s eye, and then prepared to watch the show<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> -itself. A most remarkable sort of Sister Anne person -made his appearance upon the stage soon after our -arrival, and some people who were outside the pale of -the Elect assailed him with certain strange missiles, -chiefly horticultural specimens, which must have stirred -up Woodbine the manager, for immediately there descended -upon us a shower of leaflets setting forth that -‘nothing must be thrown upon the stage,’ that ‘bouquets -left at the office would be handed on to their destination,’ -and that any one guilty of disorderly conduct -‘Would be Instantly Ejected.’ This unfortunate notice -had exactly the contrary effect to what was intended, -and two Gloucester men near me, who had brought a -liberal supply of tangerines, immediately prepared for -action. It was patent to the meanest intelligence that -trouble was brewing, and Woodbine’s myrmidons closed -up their serried ranks adjacent to the door. I noticed -that our little party was sadly scattered, but was glad -to see that Elgar was surrounded by several most stalwart -allies. At this moment Downey, who was sitting -in front of me and close to the outside of the House, on -the left, rose in his seat and proceeded to conduct the -orchestra with a folded programme. Now, though this -is a form of amusement by no means uncommon at the -Suburban, and not altogether unknown even at the -theatre, it is often allowed to pass unnoticed and never -evokes anything more than a polite remonstrance, but -on this particular occasion the melancholy Woodbine is -evidently on the war-path.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> - -<p>He advances to Downey, but instead of requesting -him to leave off his peculiar amusement, snatches wildly -at the programme itself, and in his anger falls over the -men in front of him; then finding his own efforts -unavailing, he summons the staff of porters who wear -the livery of the establishment, and directs them to -eject the self-appointed conductor. As this motley -crew advances, and Woodbine himself very cautiously -concentrates upon the rear, all the ’Varsity men in that -part of the House rise in their places and make it impossible -for the mercenaries to reach Downey, who is -in the middle of a row, unless they first clear the intervening -seats by force. Woodbine, foiled a second time, -now summons O.P. 134, an enormous ‘peeler,’ who -has been standing just outside the door on the other -side of the House. The Bobby advances and endeavours -to reach Downey, but is prevented by the men before -him, who have resumed their seats, but make an impassable -barrier by setting up their legs against the -seats in front.</p> - -<p>The officer of the law does not attempt to force his -way through, but enters the row behind, where the -inhabitants are disinterested strangers, and seizes -Downey; then meeting with no opposition from the -occupants of that row, he grips his victim firmly by the -collar, and, pulling him over the back and top of his -seat, proceeds to remove him from the House.</p> - -<p>But at this moment St. Ronots, who conceals a -desperate character beneath a mild and almost saintly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -exterior, took two flying leaps and caught the Bobby -round the neck while Hawkes jerked him neatly off his -feet. The gentleman in blue, as I have mentioned -before, was of colossal height, and also suitably proportioned, -so that his sudden fall brought down and -completely demolished two rows of stalls, while some -dozen chairs were carried away by a sudden rush of -the men behind, who feared the impact of such an -Herculean mass.</p> - -<p>At this juncture I feared a really serious tumult, -which would undoubtedly have ensued but for two -reasons. In the first place Downey was seated quite -close to the further exit, and, secondly, most of our -mightiest men of valour were too far from the scene of -action to take a hand. Though, as Accrington afterwards -remarked, ‘It’s a cold deal that leaves me -out.’</p> - -<p>This was a very cold deal, for poor Downey was -only a carcase in the grip of the monumental policeman, -who soon regained the perpendicular and hustled -him out of the auditorium with most creditable speed. -The tumult, however, was not quelled in an instant, -and Woodbine, who had incautiously anticipated the -Bobby’s victory, received a chair-back just amidships, -and went down among the dead men, to the detriment -of his pince-nez and eternal cigarette. Reggie, -having nobly retained his grip on Downey’s leg, was -cut off by the sudden and quite unintentional fall of -a respected greengrocer, who tumbled off his chair<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -and bore poor Rex to the ground, while Hawkes, who -had been endeavouring with Elgar and St. Ronots to -release Downey from the grip of the law, was struck -violently in the eye by something with the regulation -number of features. After these casualties, O.P. 134 -got his man out into the entrance, where he and -No. 154 mounted guard over him until the Proctor, -for whom Woodbine had telegraphed, should arrive.</p> - -<p>We could not induce the Bobbies, who were civil -enough, to release their prisoner. I tried reasoning -with Woodbine, but he perpetually shifted his ground, -while his assessment of the probable amount of -damage at over forty pounds was so unreasonable -that it was useless to attempt to come to terms.</p> - -<p>De Beresford, who had disappeared mysteriously, returned -very soon with a brandy and soda which he -bestowed upon Downey, and then finding all remonstrances -with Woodbine quite unavailing, we resumed -our seats, St. Ronots, Elgar and everybody who had -taken an active part in the fracas, having executed a -masterly retreat to their respective Colleges, directly -they heard that the Manager had telephoned for the -Proctor.</p> - -<p>I found a resting place on the wreckage of some stalls -beside de Beresford and Evelyn, with Reggie just in -front of us, and we sat thus until the familiar face of the -most genial of the Proctors, followed by a singularly -funereal bull-dog, appeared in the doorway. At this -juncture Freddy, Accrington and Stanhope, together<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -with about a couple of score more ’Varsity men, whose -faces we knew by sight but not to speak to, departed -comfortably and without any undue haste by the -extra exit. Most of us however who had perfectly clear -consciences sat tight and gave our names to the Proctor, -not with any idea of ultimately contributing to the -University Chest, but merely as a guarantee of good -faith. As soon as we had performed our own particular -share of this little formality, Reggie and I with de -Beresford left the house in search of our first liquid -refreshment, picking up on our way Stanhope and -Freddy who had been carefully concealed in the pit. -We reached that admirable institution, the Cowley -Bowling Club, of which most of us are members, and -were enjoying a little well-earned refreshment, when to -our amazement the ubiquitous Proctor with the iniquitous -bull-dogs appeared in the entrance. Houseman advanced -and was about to address Reggie, who was surveying -him with no very friendly expression, when the -excellent barman appeared suddenly from the back-room -and asked the Proctor if he was a member of the -Club, which honour he was compelled to disclaim, but -expressed a desire to speak with some of the young -gentlemen present. The wily barman however asked if -Houseman had a warrant to enter the club, and on hearing -that he had not, asked him most politely to withdraw -at once. The Proctor complied with this request with -the best grace possible under the circumstances, but I -have seldom seen bull-dogs look more malevolent than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -Houseman’s two attendants. No, not even when a pair -of them tracked me four weary miles on foot only to -find that the fair lady with whom I had been sharing a -cab at midnight was indeed my second cousin.</p> - -<p>Having congratulated ourselves and the barman upon -his presence of mind, we finished our drinks and returned -to the Suburban, where the show seemed to be -going on peacefully. Two bicyclists were chasing one -another round and round upon a sloping circular track -at a tremendous rate, and whenever they stopped for -breath the showman filled in the interval with an explanatory -speech.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately this same showman was an extremely -sour looking person and presented a most remarkable -appearance. He had a brown bowler hat and trousers, -green waistcoat, and black expression, which ‘tout -ensemble’ constrained St. Ronots to cheer—though not -very lustily—at the wrong moment, thereby greatly enraging -the human kaleidoscope, who signalled to Woodbine -to remove the Hereditary Legislator from the -House. That individual advanced with some circumspection -and requested St. Ronots peremptorily to ‘go -outside quietly,’ but our friend who had really done -nothing wrong, not unnaturally declined to comply with -his request, and so the Manager was compelled to fall -back upon his oleaginous smile and the Proctor. That -gentleman came across to the Hereditary Legislator and -exchanged a word or two with him and then appeared to -metaphorically put Woodbine through the mangle, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -he departed sadly to the Temperance Bar for another -cigarette while the Proctor went quietly home. For the -remaining hour or so, we really watched the performance, -which was rather diverting, and leaving in a body -at about eleven o’clock, finished the evening in our rooms.</p> - -<p>On Monday morning, in response to urgent notices -from the Junior Proctor, a large party assembled at the -leprous hour of nine in his rooms at James’. We noticed, -as we entered the ante-room, the Assistant Manager -of the Suburban Palace of Varieties clad in the -usual check cycling-suit and bowler hat, besides several -promising looking criminals who were obviously witnesses -in various cases coming up for investigation. -After exchanging greetings with Squiff and Accrington, -Reggie and I selected the two most comfortable chairs -and sat down to wait, while the party were passed in -one by one to the torture-chamber. More and more -people continued to arrive, including Bob Parclane, -arrayed in the inevitable eye-glass and check-coat, who -was conducting a party accused of throwing bottles out -of a window at an elderly citizen. There were also two -gentlemen of our acquaintance, who had been so indiscreet -as to empty the contents of a syphon upon some -wayfarer’s head below their windows in Unity.</p> - -<p>After waiting an interminable time, during which the -crowd at the door never seemed to grow less, I was -ushered in and questioned, but on disclaiming any share -in the riot, was politely bowed out. Reggie, who followed -me, could not truthfully say this, and was noted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -down for further reference, and a share in the damages. -By this time it was ten o’clock, and we hurried off to -join St. Ronots, who was waiting to breakfast with us -at the O.U.D.S., and to take tickets for the next musical -comedy, which was nothing less than the ever popular -‘Cinq Demi-Vierges.’ In the course of the day every -one who had attended the Proctorial Levée received a -notice regretting that the J.P. must ask us to pay -a pound apiece by that evening, which we accordingly -did. It was suggested that an indignation meeting of -the shareholders in Bridgeley, Houseman & Co., Proctors -and General Collectors, should be summoned to -demand a statement of accounts, and Reggie, who had -just paid four golden sovereigns into the concern, waxed -most eloquent upon the subject, but nothing ever came -of it. As the Pilot cheerfully remarked on his return -from taking a pound share, ‘It is indeed wonderful how -we put up with our Pastors and Masters.’</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="VIII">VIII.<br /> -<span class="smaller">AN EIGHTS’ WEEK.</span></h2> - -<p>‘This,’ said Freddy wearily, as he threw a cream -coloured envelope upon the table, ‘is too much of a -good thing; here’s an official announcement from Aunt -Julia that she and her companion, a cheery young thing -of sixty-five, are coming up for a fortnight to enjoy the -‘boating-races;’ she casually remarks that the girls -have only one day vacant and that a Sunday, so that -it will not be worth while their putting in an appearance.’ -‘Her postscript,’ he added, with a look of the -deepest disgust, ‘runs as follows: “Dear Ophelia”—that’s -the old girl’s satellite—“is very anxious to see -something of real Oxford life, and hopes that you will -arrange a visit with some nice young fellows to the -Bodleian or the Martyrs’ Memorial.”’</p> - -<p>‘Pouff,’ blew the Pilot expressively, ‘what are our -relations coming to; but, if it isn’t rude, who is -Aunt Julia?’</p> - -<p>‘Julia Claudia Letitia Fanny, Dowager Lady Blitherington,’ -recited Freddy, ‘her husband was Sir Hophni -Jenkins of the <i>Weekly Eraser</i>, who bought a peerage -by settling a Minister’s cab fares about forty years ago. -But seriously, we must get the girls.’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Oh yes, we must get the girls,’ echoed Squiff. -‘They’re awful sportswomen, I met them last year at -the Addison Ball.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes, I remember them too,’ said Reggie. ‘They -nearly ran me off my feet, and I finally settled with -Maisie in the Senior Tutor’s rooms, where we sat out -a considerable portion of the programme, and incidentally -consumed all the strawberries left on the Reverend -gentleman’s table.’</p> - -<p>‘I fancy,’ said Freddy reflectively, ‘that they go -rather too fast for Aunt Julia, who, despite the decidedly -<i>risqué</i> tone of the <i>Weekly Eraser</i>, is not as enlightened -as she should be. I must write to Muriel myself, I -expect they’ve only got some wretched country visit -which they can easily put off. We couldn’t stand Aunt -Julia unadulterated.’</p> - -<p>‘Where did Miss Ophelia spring from?’ put in the -Pilot, whose curiosity is insatiable.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, she was one of the bathing attendants at Margate -when Aunt Julia went down there in sixty-five, -and she took such a fancy to her that she’s kept her -ever since.’</p> - -<p>‘We’d better arrange a joint picnic for all our relatives -one day,’ remarked Reggie, who often has these brilliant -inspirations; ‘it will save a lot of trouble, and they’ll all -be pleased.’</p> - -<p>‘They won’t be pleased with Ophelia,’ remarked -Freddy unpleasantly, ‘but have it your own way,’ and -he retired to write letters.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - -<p>This conversation took place on the Sunday before -Eights, after breakfast, and having settled nothing as -usual, we went out on the river. On Tuesday afternoon -at 6 o’clock Freddy, supported by Squiff and myself, -fetched up at the station to meet Aunt Julia. The train -had stopped fully two minutes before we saw a phenomenally -unattractive female descend from a first-class -carriage carrying several handbags and a diseased-looking -spaniel.</p> - -<p>‘That’s the Bugg,’ remarked Freddy dismally, as he -slowly advanced to the carriage from which Miss Bugg -and a porter were heaving out an inanimate mass clad -in furs, lace and silk. Freddy placed his arms gingerly -around this relic and kissed it twice somewhere near -the top. By the time Squiff and I reached them, the -object had begun to speak. ‘My dear Frederick,’ it was -saying in feeble tones, ‘such a terrible journey; poor -Jacob was so ill, and Ophelia actually forgot the curative -capsules.’</p> - -<p>‘The O’Rossa, Mr. Cochrane, Lady Blitherington,’ -murmured Freddy, but her Ladyship was busily engaged -in administering to Jacob a capsule which the -Bugg had just discovered.</p> - -<p>‘The O’Rossa, Mr. Cochrane, Miss Bugg,’ screamed -Freddy, glaring at Ophelia.</p> - -<p>‘I’m so felicitous to meet you,’ replied the lady with -a contortion intended for a friendly smile.</p> - -<p>‘I’m glad to see you’ve brought good weather with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -you,’ remarked Squiff to Aunt Julia, ‘at one time it -looked rather like a bad week.’</p> - -<p>The Dowager was just about to reply when the arrival -of her dutiful nephew, vicariously laden with luggage, -put an end to conversation, and we helped the ladies -into the Granville bus, accompanied by Freddy.</p> - -<p>On our way back we spent a pleasant half-hour at the -King’s Restaurant, and so when we reached the Squifferies -Freddy was already there.</p> - -<p>He greeted us with unnecessary noise and stuffed a -telegram into my hand, which said: ‘Righto Thursday -for a week be good Maisie,’ and Squiff, having read the -message over my shoulder, whistled softly ‘there’s a -good time coming, boys,’ which Freddy interrupted by -saying to both of us,</p> - -<p>‘If you can stand any more of the menagerie to-night -come to dinner with us at eight.’</p> - -<p>We accepted, and arrived fairly punctually, to find -Ophelia and Jacob in possession of the private sitting-room.</p> - -<p>Freddy of course was late.</p> - -<p>‘O, Mr. O’Rossa,’ she began as Squiff advanced towards -her, ‘do tell me all about your daily provocations -at Oxford.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s rather a large order, Miss Bugg,’ said Squiff -smilingly, ‘where shall I begin?’</p> - -<p>‘At the very beginning, please,’ she said, ‘say at your -early morning Church.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, Miss Bugg,’ said Squiff, ‘you give me an account<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -of how you think we spend our day, and I’ll -correct you if you go wrong.’</p> - -<p>‘Very well. I’ve read such a lot about Oxford you -know, I always took such an interest in the dear -Collegiates. I hear you rise at seven thirty, and then -all those boys who have lodgings within the walls go -to Church at eight, and afterwards a Parthian breakfast -with your friends; now tell me,’ she continued, ‘I am so -interested in all these things, do you perform your abductions -at home or are there public baths? And then,’ -she went on, giving us no time to think what she meant, -‘from 9 to 1 you attend the Professors, and the afternoon -is spent in some form of aesthetics, or anthropological -research. At seven you have dinner, and they tell -me that the food is plentiful but bad;’ ‘hear! hear!’ I -remarked; she beamed and continued, ‘I’ve looked in -Verdant Green and the Student’s guide to Oxford, but -I can’t get a clear idea of how you spend your evenings.’</p> - -<p>‘Chiefly in study,’ began Squiff solemnly, when he -was interrupted by a roar from Freddy, whose face -appeared round the door.</p> - -<p>‘What ho, Ophelia!’ he cried, as he came into the -room; ‘On the go again? Don’t you believe all they -tell you.’</p> - -<p>‘On the contrary,’ I interrupted, as Ophelia began a -protest. ‘Miss Bugg was instructing us.’</p> - -<p>‘Your remark is somewhat exiguous, Mr. Cocklin,’ -began the Bugg, when the inner door opened gently -and Lady Blitherington sailed in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Good evening, Frederick,’ she said, and bowed to -us, ‘I am glad you’re more punctual than usual; poor -dear Hophni used to say that if your Uncle William -had only been more punctual he might have risen to -be a credit to the family.’</p> - -<p>‘Rather an unlikely contingency,’ remarked Freddy -after we had put the ladies into the lift, ‘considering -that the old scoundrel drove his wife into an asylum -and then eloped to New York with a milliner’s assistant.’</p> - -<p>‘I suppose you’ve instructed Ophelia in all the Oxford -customs,’ remarked the dowager as she sat down.</p> - -<p>‘She doesn’t need any instructions,’ replied Squiff -with a bow towards the Bugg, ‘she’s read all the best -authorities, Lady Blitherington.’</p> - -<p>‘By the way, Aunt,’ said Freddy suddenly, ‘I’ve just -had a wire from Maisie, she and Muriel are coming here -on Thursday for a week, isn’t it jolly?’</p> - -<p>‘Goodness gracious me, Frederick,’ exclaimed the old -lady, ‘but never mind, I suppose if they think nothing -of putting off their visit to the dear Archdeacon, I mustn’t -bother about it; still it is too bad of them.’</p> - -<p>‘O no, Aunt, it’s very good of them,’ said Freddy, -‘think how they’ll liven up the place.’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t doubt that for a minute,’ said Aunt Julia, and -snapped her teeth with unusual decision.</p> - -<p>‘Are you out in Chambers or in the College, Mr. -Cockerel?’ enquired the Bugg with a pleasant smile.</p> - -<p>‘I’m sorry to say it’s my last year, Miss Bugg,’ I replied,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -‘and I’m out in digs, you must come and see them -some day.’</p> - -<p>‘I should love it,’ replied the companion with a rapturous -gaze at the electric light.</p> - -<p>‘My dear Ophelia,’ interjected a warning voice from -the top of the table, ‘you can’t go without a chaperon!’</p> - -<p>At this remark I heard a suppressed gurgle beside me -and turned in time to see Freddy hide his face in -a napkin, while a soup spoon waved feebly in his -nerveless fingers.</p> - -<p>Squiff, however, who has marvellous self-control, relieved -the situation by complimenting Lady Blitherington -on the possession of Jacob.</p> - -<p>‘The smartest little King Charles I have ever seen,’ -he said with apparent sincerity.</p> - -<p>‘Ah! Mr. O’Rossa, Ophelia will be pleased to hear -you say that,’ said the old lady, ‘she has tended that -dog like a baby for the last ten years.’</p> - -<p>‘Do you care for dogs, Mr. O’Rossa?’ queried the -Bugg.</p> - -<p>‘I’m very fond of them, Miss Bugg,’ he replied, ‘I -keep several at home.’</p> - -<p>‘How nice,’ said the Bugg feelingly, ‘then you must -try White Rose soap with them, I’ll give you a cake of -it, there’s nothing better.’</p> - -<p>‘I should be surprised,’ said Squiff emphatically.</p> - -<p>Ophelia, however, did not appear to be troubled by -the inanity of his reply, but immediately passed on to -discussing the ‘rowing races’ with Freddy, who gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -her exceedingly novel explanations of those innocent -affairs.</p> - -<p>‘I suppose, Mr. Cochrane,’ said Lady Blitherington -to me with a kindly smile, ‘I suppose you may stay -out till ten o’clock?’</p> - -<p>‘Certainly, Lady Blitherington,’ I assented, but -forbore to mention how far she had undershot the mark.</p> - -<p>‘Very well, then I will order tea for you before -you go. I suppose you like tea after dinner, Mr. -O’Rossa?’</p> - -<p>‘Very much, indeed, my Lady,’ said Squiff, courteously, -‘I esteem it immensely;’ and this answer appeared -to agitate Freddy afresh, as he doubtless -reflected that Squiff never touches anything milder -than Green Chartreuse after dinner except on very rare -occasions, when he condescends to a cup of thick Turkish -coffee at the Trocadero.</p> - -<p>Before Freddy had reappeared from the shelter of -his napkin, Miss Bugg, who had been endeavouring -to shew me a new way of preparing strawberries -with a steel knife, cut herself, and left the dining -room in great haste, but we soon followed, and found -her seated in an arm-chair, with Jacob fast asleep in -her lap and the promised cake of White Rose soap -in their immediate neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>Lady Blitherington ensconced herself in the other -arm-chair, while Squiff, who has a fair baritone voice, -sang us ‘Father O’Flynn’ with more vigour than accuracy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> - -<p>Just before ten an English waiter—born in Hamburg—appeared -with what Ophelia persisted in calling -‘a dish of tea,’ and that good soul disappeared in -search of Jacob’s own saucer in order that he too -might enjoy a little light refreshment before retiring -to the elaborately quilted basket awaiting him in her -room.</p> - -<p>I parted from Freddy and Squiff at Carfax, and on -entering our rooms found Reggie and the Pilot enveloped -in a positive cloud of smoke, discussing -everything in general and nothing in particular.</p> - -<p>‘Accrington’s people are coming up on Thursday, -Martha,’ said Reggie, as I entered the room.</p> - -<p>‘Rot, Reggie,’ said the Pilot, ‘You mean Sybil Accrington -is coming; I don’t suppose you care whether -her father and mother come here or remain in Liverchester.’</p> - -<p>‘It seems to me, Reggie,’ I said, ‘that what with -Maisie and Sybil Accrington and others, your hands -will be pretty full this week.’</p> - -<p>‘The pressing problem of the moment,’ said the Pilot, -gravely, as he spread himself in front of the fireplace, -‘is, how many pounds of strawberries are required to -feed five healthy English girls, three elderly ladies, -two lapdogs, and last but not least, eight undergraduates. -Freddy’s arranged a picnic for Sunday, -and left me to cater for it with his usual cheek.’</p> - -<p>‘Which is his usual cheek, Pilot?’ asked Reggie in -his most irritating manner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘O the right if it’s left, but if that isn’t right the left,’ -said the Pilot gravely, as he heaved a book at Reggie -and a sigh to himself, and drifted off to bed.</p> - -<p>When Reggie and I came down at 10.30 next morning -we found the Pilot interrogating Mrs. McNab as to -how she thought trifle and Charlotte Russe would go -with cold lamb and salmon mayonnaise.</p> - -<p>The worthy lady, whose brain already reeled at the -thought of the entertainments to be given at our lodgings -during the week, was standing in the doorway -murmuring to herself ‘hadd a piece of nutmeg an bile -the ’ole in a pudden’ clorth.’</p> - -<p>Soon after she had gone, a large brake stopped at our -door and the occupants in no mild terms requested -Reggie and the Pilot to come out at once, if they did -not wish to go where the refrigerator is of no avail.</p> - -<p>They obeyed the call, but the Pilot in addition to his -cricket bag carried several wine lists and Hooper’s -catalogue of ‘cold dishes for picnic parties.’</p> - -<p>In order to avoid a meeting with the Bugg, of whom -I foresaw we should see a great deal, I motored over to -Banbury for lunch with de Beresford. Thus it befell -that I missed the most exciting scene of the day when -Jacob fell into the river and was rescued by a Humane -Society’s man, while the Bugg who had fainted on the -Barabbas’ barge was revived by a drop of the bargeman’s -private store of brandy.</p> - -<p>The crowd at the station, when we got there next day -to receive Blitherington and the girls, was something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -terrific. Nearly every member of the University appeared -to be expecting female relations, and most of -them must have been satisfied, for the crowd by the -11.50 was simply colossal, though our cheery trio were -conspicuous by their absence. After two or three -minutes of unavailing search we secured a harassed -official who was buzzing round the mouth of the guard’s -van, and he assured us that a relief train would arrive -in ten minutes, so we possessed ourselves in patience -and admired our friends’ sisters.</p> - -<p>We were presented to Mrs. and Miss Accrington and -had just caught sight of de Beresford escorting his -mother and her niece, the Honourable Violet McNeill, -who is generally admitted to be the most charming -débutante of the season, when the relief train steamed -in and a second scene of confusion ensued. Freddy, -who is very quick in all things, sorted out from a first-class -carriage a faultlessly dressed young man with a -monocle and a pink-and-white complexion and two -extremely pretty girls, whom he introduced as my -cousins Miss Coffington, Miss Muriel Coffington, and -Lord Blitherington.</p> - -<p>His lordship created the first sensation by enquiring, -‘Is there a really good pawnshop down here?’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ said Maisie, ‘we picked him up in the Burlington -Arcade yesterday, kept him till this morning, gave -him sixpence for a shave and brought him down here, -and now we’re all three cleaned out; but he’s brought -his gold-mounted dressing case to stay with a local<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -Hebrew, and so it’ll be pay day for everybody to-morrow. -Now let’s get up to the village inn.’</p> - -<p>‘Don’t be in such a hurry, young woman,’ said -Blitherington slowly, ‘always reconnoitre your country -before advancing your main body; is Ophelia with -our Lady Aunt?’</p> - -<p>‘Very much so,’ said Freddy.</p> - -<p>‘Good-bye then, I’m going back to town,’ said his -lordship as he proceeded to climb back into the carriage: -but on our pointing out that he had no money, he -was persuaded to accompany us to the hotel.</p> - -<p>‘Only I warn you,’ he said with a weary smile, ‘if -Ophelia commences telling me about Jacob I shall -either take to drink or emigrate.’</p> - -<p>We could not return to the Granville to lunch, as -Freddy and I had promised to lunch with Cobson, and -Reggie, who had been persuaded to speak at the -Union that evening, had his speech to prepare; however -we arranged to meet the girls and Blitherington -in the gateway of Thomas’ at four o’clock for the -races. As we were walking down St. Aldate’s in the -afternoon, Freddy, who professes a great indifference -to the charms of his fair cousins, announced his intention -of walking with Blitherington, so that Reggie -and I were allotted to Maisie and Muriel.</p> - -<p>We had only been waiting about ten minutes when -the trio hove in sight, Blitherington in a splendid flannel -suit—he certainly does know how to dress—and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -girls in exceedingly light fluffy chiffons, which always -win my heart.</p> - -<p>Freddy was inclined to be sarcastic at their little lapse -in punctuality, but Maisie at once said to him, ‘Now run -along you quaint old thing and try to make Blithers behave -himself; can’t you see Mr. Cochrane and I want to -be alone?’</p> - -<p>I had intended taking Muriel, who though very pretty -is said to be quieter than her sister, and giving Reggie -the pleasure of Maisie’s decidedly effervescent conversation, -but after this how could I resist taking her under -my wing.</p> - -<p>‘We had a lot of difficulty in shunting Ophelia,’ she -said complacently as we started off for the river, ‘the -dear old thing is so keen on seeing the boating-races, as -she calls them.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ chimed in Muriel who wasn’t far behind, ‘we -had to send a note round to Charlie Hanbury at Barabbas’, -who had already got half a dozen maiden aunts -encamped around him, and he promised to take her with -them onto the Barabbas’ barge at tea-time.’</p> - -<p>‘Well now, Mr. Cochrane,’ began Maisie, ‘we’ve heard -a lot about you from Freddy; he says you’d make a cat -laugh.’</p> - -<p>‘I hope you don’t consider yourself a cat, Miss Coffington,’ -I put in quickly.</p> - -<p>‘O don’t call me Miss Coffington,’ said Maisie crossly, -‘It’s such a mouthful.’</p> - -<p>At this moment Accrington and Cobson, who were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -rowing in our boat, ran past us, and Maisie, after a -hasty glance at their attire, remarked simply, ‘How -terribly draughty.’</p> - -<p>‘What do you mean, Miss—er—Maisie?’ I asked.</p> - -<p>‘Why look at their poor dear knees. Oh, but perhaps -Oxford men haven’t got knees officially any more than -we have legs.’</p> - -<p>‘You’ve got hold of a very good joke,’ I said to Reggie, -as peals of laughter came from behind.</p> - -<p>‘Yes, Miss Muriel says,’ began Reggie; when Muriel -held up a little gloved hand in front of him and said, -‘Oh you horrid man, I shall never tell you anything -again if you tell them that.’</p> - -<p>‘All right, then I won’t,’ said Reggie; and he didn’t -till we were back at home that night.</p> - -<p>We went on to the Thomas’ barge, which as everybody -knows is next door to the Cecil’s, and found it -crowded with the usual assortment of Eights’ week relations, -some of them surpassingly beautiful, but some -very much the reverse.</p> - -<p>We could not find chairs for the girls, so Maisie sat -upon a railing with her feet hanging over the edge, till -Freddy’s tutor came up from below and informed him -that it was hardly decent. So we sat down upon the -steps just as the minute gun went off.</p> - -<p>‘What an unpleasant old man,’ said Maisie. ‘He’s -obviously got no daughters of his own or he’d be in -better training.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes he has,’ said Freddy, ‘but one’s the Professor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -of Archæology at Girton and the other edits “Clippings -for Careful Housewives.”’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes, I know,’ said Maisie, ‘if I scrubbed my face -till it shone and wore red flannel petticoats he’d have -smiled upon me.’</p> - -<p>At this juncture the starting gun boomed out, and -very soon after the mingled noises of cheering, rattles, -horns, and all kinds of unmusical instruments floated up -the stream.</p> - -<p>‘Are they coming yet?’ asked Muriel excitedly, as in -her efforts to get a better view she trod upon the hat of -a lady on a lower step who looked, as she subsequently -said, ‘like a ferret with lockjaw’; ‘and what boat’s that?’ -as the top of the division began to appear by the ’Varsity -boat-house.</p> - -<p>‘Gloucester, I think,’ Reggie said. ‘Yes it must be, -and there’s our boat close behind.’</p> - -<p>‘I think you’ll get them all right,’ said Freddy who -with Blitherington was suspended from the awning just -above our heads.</p> - -<p>‘I lay you a dollar they don’t,’ said the other, ‘why -the beggars are as blown as glass.’</p> - -<p>Conversation then ceased as the two leading boats of -the division came closer into view. Gloucester were -about a quarter of a length ahead and rowing fairly -evenly, while the Cecil’s crew appeared rather the worse -for wear, but in spite of this the fact of being opposite -their own barge and other people’s sisters nerved them -up to such an extent that they shot up level with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -rudder of the Gloucester boat just as they passed us. I -caught sight of the face of the Cecil’s stroke, a little man -who splendidly exemplifies the old adage that ‘the best -goods are done up in the smallest parcels,’ and noticed -that he at any rate did not appear to be completely exhausted -as yet. Their little cox was rising up in his -seat like a soufflé and edging the Gloucester man, who -had very foolishly taken the inner berth, closer and -closer into the bank. At last the oar of number two in -the Gloucester boat grazed the rushes and their cox was -obliged to pull out into the stream, so Cecil’s gained -their bump just opposite the Lichfield barge and hardly -two lengths from the end of the course. The other -boats all rowed over, that being the only bump in the -division.</p> - -<p>When the Cecil’s boat returned to their barge next -door to us we all set up a tremendous cheer, and Reggie -departed in great haste to congratulate Miss Accrington, -who was clapping her little hands with the most sisterly -devotion. I scrambled down below with Freddy to get -some tea, but this was a very hazardous business and it -was nearer twenty minutes than ten before I secured -two cups for the girls, and we waited patiently for the -first division.</p> - -<p>About half-past five the Thomas’ men came out on the -raft just beneath us and stepped gingerly into their boat -which was the eighth in the first division. Maisie fell -violently in love with the cox, who though exceptionally -diminutive was possessed of a megaphonic voice which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -as Freddy coarsely remarked, ‘Fetches the girls every -time.’</p> - -<p>The boat put off into mid stream, and when the cox -repeated the usual formula of ‘Forward, are you ready, -paddle!’ in stentorian tones, Maisie was so moved that -I thought for a minute she was actually going to jump in -after him.</p> - -<p>Blitherington, who had been down below consuming -something which was not tea, now reappeared and said, -‘Can’t we go down the river in a punt for this division, -Freddy?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, yes, certainly if you like,’ he answered, ‘I haven’t -got a punt, but we’ll soon get one.’</p> - -<p>We all trooped down the steps, and Freddy pirated -the punt of some unknown scholar, while Reggie fetched -the Pilot’s cushions from the adjoining barge.</p> - -<p>‘Now who’s going to pole?’ said Maisie.</p> - -<p>‘O, Martha’ll punt,’ said Freddy, ‘he rather likes it.’</p> - -<p>‘All right, I’ll take her down,’ I said, ‘if you’ll bring us -back, Freddy.’</p> - -<p>This struck me as rather a cute dodge, for the stream -will take anybody down, whereas punting back up the -river through about a hundred other boats is a serious -task.</p> - -<p>Freddy however assented immediately, and we got -under weigh, leaving Reggie with Accrington’s sister. -After we had secured a place in the long line down the -tow-path side we spent the time very pleasantly in consuming -sponge rusks borrowed from a Barabbas’ man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -next door who had a tea-party in full swing. This same -party was amalgamated with that of Hanbury, and from -the bottom of his punt the Bugg suddenly bobbed up and -hailed us effusively. Blitherington wanted to move on -at once, but we pointed out that we should not get such -a good position anywhere else, and also that the Barabbas’ -rusks were very delectable.</p> - -<p>We had been there fully five minutes when Miss Bugg -gave vent to a terrible screech, and we noticed that -Jacob’s back was blazing furiously with blue fire from -the spirit lamp which the Bugg had upset over him. -She took off her cloak and endeavoured to smother the -flames, but Hanbury very unfeelingly threw Jacob into -the water to the great distress of Ophelia, who screamed -louder than ever. We might have had every canoe and -punt in the river paddling up to ascertain who was being -murdered, but Blitherington quietly drew a cushion from -beneath Muriel’s head and with a well directed shot -caught Ophelia in the back of the neck. This treatment -appeared to soothe Miss Bugg, though the aforementioned -six maiden aunts made some remark about ‘an -unmannerly young cub,’ and we had to persuade the -Pilot, who passed at that moment in a Canader, to take -his lordship with him.</p> - -<p>Soon after this all the first division except Thomas’ -and Lichfield rowed by us, the former having bumped -the latter just above the Gut. Immediately the last boat -had gone by we pulled up our pole and started up stream -under the energetic if erratic guidance of Freddy. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -we came opposite the ’Varsity Boat-house we collided -with a punt which contained three elderly ladies and a -harassed-looking clergyman, punted by a meek individual -who must have come from Park Temple.</p> - -<p>Freddy, having bumped the Parson’s elbow, sheered -off in the opposite direction and ran into the stern of a -canoe, the owner of which quietly ladled a few quarts of -water over Maisie’s dress.</p> - -<p>‘Drat the man,’ she said, ‘Why can’t he—’ And -then as he lifted his hat and apologised profusely, ‘O -pray don’t mention it, water can’t possibly do any harm,’ -and we went on our way, though perhaps not rejoicing. -The Thomas’ barge was too full of people thumping their -eightsmen upon the back, so we landed on the Cecil’s -raft and walked slowly back up the fine avenue, which -was crowded with youth and beauty all going in one -direction.</p> - -<p>There was no great excitement that night, and as -Muriel complained of being tired, the ladies retired -early, while Blitherington kindly organized a poker -party in my rooms after the Union debate, and carried -off thirty shillings from our united funds. With -the exception of one and twopence this had all disappeared -by the following morning, for while I was in -Freddy’s digs at about sherry-and-bitter time, Blitherington -came in to ask if he might put half-a-dozen -collars and a silk handkerchief down to his account -at Sampson’s.</p> - -<p>That afternoon we took the girls out in canoes for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -Eights and Maisie fell to me, while Freddy sacrificed -himself to the extent of taking Lady Blitherington and -Ophelia out in a large and equably-balanced punt. -Squiff disappeared with Muriel in another canoe; -while Blitherington, to whom the sight of Ophelia is -as a red rag to a bull, persuaded Reggie to take him -out in a punt alone.</p> - -<p>‘What are you going to do with me this afternoon?’ -said Maisie as she settled herself in my Canader, ‘don’t -you think we ought to have brought Miss Bugg as chaperon?’</p> - -<p>I suppose my face must have expressed my feelings, -for she laughed and added, ‘Well, we’ll compromise by -taking Jacob,’ which we did.</p> - -<p>‘I’m a firm believer in laziness, aren’t you, Mr. Cochrane,’ -she said as we turned up the Cher; ‘let’s get into -some quiet nook and watch the people passing.’</p> - -<p>‘I like Oxford,’ she added after a short pause, ‘I can -say what I like without everybody thinking I mean -something else. That’s sometimes so unpleasant. I -wonder,’ she remarked musingly, ‘who I’m going to -marry; what sort of person do you think would suit me, -Mr. Cochrane?’</p> - -<p>‘I should put you down for a Sir William Shipton or -something like that, Miss Maisie,’ I answered.</p> - -<p>‘Oh! the money part of that is all right, but I want a -respectable and presentable person, not an aitchless -remnant with a squint and large feet.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh! I suppose a decent sort of Englishman who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -bathes daily and plays most games would do you,’ I -suggested.</p> - -<p>‘Yes I think so, but he must be big and strong to -satisfy me.’</p> - -<p>‘There are some of them to be found even in these -hard times,’ I assented.</p> - -<p>‘Thank the Lord,’ said Maisie piously; and we changed -the subject.</p> - -<p>‘Look,’ she cried suddenly, as a punt containing a -portly and painted dowager shot past, propelled by -a weedy-looking youth with pince-nez, ‘that’s old Lady -Dombonpoint, the widow of Sir Herbert of the celebrated -‘Aurol for Aching Ears.’ She’s as rich as they -make them, and yet she only allowed her son, that -sickly-looking youth, half-a-crown a week for pocket -money at Eton, and bought his clothes from a slop-shop -in Tottenham Court Road. But you know,’ she -continued in a whisper, although no one was near,—and -when Maisie whispers I know what to expect,—‘she -was awfully gone on Blitherington last season, -and followed him all round the Park, not to speak of -country-houses and restaurants; he had a wretched -time till she finally proposed to him at Ascot on a -coach. Of course he rejected her, and then she fainted. -He told me he might have stood her for a year, but he -was sure she was what he calls a “stayer,” and would -live to a hundred.’ Before I had time to make any comment -on this extraordinary episode in the life of the -youthful peer, the Bugg’s voice penetrated to our shelter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -and we caught the words, ‘I told him he was an idiot to -oppose the Plural Dean, and no wonder they call it the -Church Irritant if he is a curate.’ And the punt containing -the inimitable Ophelia passed on. ‘There!’ -said Maisie explosively, ‘that’s a nice thing to have -tacked on to me, isn’t it? She’s Blithers’ bête noir; -why one day she told him that he oughtn’t to smoke, as -it produced a weakness in the pneumatic nerve!’</p> - -<p>‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I’m sorry for you, but still you must -admit she answers the description that a certain paper -bestowed on itself not long ago, “Funny without being -vulgar.”’</p> - -<p>‘I don’t know,’ said Maisie doubtfully, ‘why I could -tell you some things she’s said that—well perhaps I’d -better not.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh! do,’ I said, ‘why not collect Buggisms.’</p> - -<p>‘Why not, indeed,’ said Maisie, and thereafter a -thoughtful silence ensued.</p> - -<p>‘I think it’s about time we went back,’ I said, having -occupied the interval in gazing at Maisie’s very shapely -ankles; ‘I should like to stay here for ever, but—’</p> - -<p>‘Of course you’re bound to say that,’ interrupted -Maisie, as I began to rise ready to pole, ‘but the -question is, do you really mean it?’</p> - -<p>I was in the act of pushing off when a fearful shock -sent me flying into Maisie’s lap, and her parasol into the -water. Maisie was just preparing to utter her favourite -‘cuss-word,’ as she calls it, when a cheerful and inane -voice from the offending boat remarked languidly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -‘Hullo! Maisie, what do you stick your old hearse in -the light for?’</p> - -<p>‘It’s not a hearse,’ retorted Maisie, angrily, ‘and Mr. -Cochrane has been very kind and attentive to me.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh! I’m sure of it,’ chuckled Blitherington, for it -was he and Reggie in another punt, though neither of -them seemed to be punting, and their boat was drifting -broadside on down stream. ‘All the world,’ he continued, -solemnly, ‘is attentive to its friends’ sisters and -cousins.’</p> - -<p>‘If we want to see the Eights we must move on,’ I -interrupted hastily, as I saw Reggie beginning to give -utterance to some home-truth, and Reggie’s home-truths -are the most unpleasant that I know. Fortunately -Blitherington assented, and so we all punted down to -the barge together. The races were most exciting to -all but Cecil’s, who rowed over hopelessly, being behind -the bump of James’ and Llewellyn’s. It was decided not -to watch the first division, as Blithers had arranged to -drive a large party out in a coach to sup at Woodstock -and return by moonlight.</p> - -<p>The supper in The Lion was an enormous success, -and it is not wonderful that on the return journey there -was a great scramble for the inside of the coach, the -four places being eventually secured by Freddy, Muriel, -Reggie, and Sybil Accrington. As to what occurred I -am unable to make any definite statement, though -Reggie insists that Freddy kissed him by mistake -in the dark, and this Freddy denies, like Peter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -‘with an oath’; however from the silence inside I -gathered that they were all enjoying themselves. Outside -Maisie and I, Blithers, Farmborough, the Pilot, -Miss MacNeill and de Beresford sang comic songs -with ever-increasing vigour, while the Bugg, who had -come as general chaperon, rhapsodised into the unheeding -ears of the Pilot, who had, as he afterwards -admitted, fallen asleep through weariness.</p> - -<p>The next day was devoted to an inspection of the -various colleges, monuments, and points of interest, -with tea afterwards in different rooms, ‘a regular -field-day for the Bugg,’ as Freddy aptly remarked. -On being questioned later as to what she had seen, she -mixed up the Martyrs’ Memorial with St. Peter’s-in-the-East, -and stated at dinner that she considered the -Sheldonian ‘such an ornament to the Parks.’ In the -evening Freddy and I conveyed the Famille Blitherington -to the O.U.D.S. performance in Gloucester -Gardens, in which Fatty sustained a prominent part -very creditably, and Cobson did wonderful quick -changes as ‘2nd Lord, serving man, knight, soldier, -citizen, and apprentice.’ Blitherington afterwards remarked -to him, ‘My dear old native, if you went on at -the Pav. in town as Ratsini, the quick-change man, you’d -make your fortune, and probably marry some light of -the variety stage into the bargain. Try it!’</p> - -<p>This <i>al fresco</i> entertainment was over earlier than -such affairs usually are, and so soon after ten o’clock -we left the Dowager and her suite at the Granville<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -and returned to our digs. As we ascended the stairs -we heard peels of laughter coming from the room, -and Reggie’s raucous voice enquiring, ‘Do you open’?</p> - -<p>‘Lord, yes,’ said a lady’s voice, ‘I’ll let you in for -twopence.’</p> - -<p>A cheery poker party was gathered round the table, -consisting of Reggie, the Pilot, de Beresford, Accrington, -and a very smart little lady whose face was unknown -to us.</p> - -<p>‘Hullo, you birds, I didn’t expect you quite so early,’ -Reggie cried, ‘let me introduce you to my friend Mrs. -Jack Lomond, Lord Blitherington, Mr. Cochrane.’</p> - -<p>The lady removed a jewelled cigarette tube from her -mouth, and enquired with a smile, ‘Won’t you join -the dance, as they say in “Alice in Wonderland.”’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, don’t let us spoil your game,’ returned Blithers, -‘five’s the best number for poker.’</p> - -<p>‘That’s all right,’ said the Pilot, ‘we were just finishing -this when you came. Let’s turn it into Bank, if -Mrs. Lomond has no objection.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, whatever you like,’ the lady put in with a smile; -‘you must be rather surprised at my appearance here,’ -she continued, addressing me, ‘but Reggie asked me -down for the picnic to-morrow, and I hadn’t time to -reply, so I came in person, which is perhaps better.’</p> - -<p>As we settled down at the historical round table to -play Bank, I observed that Blithers carefully commandeered -the chair next to Mrs. Lomond, and she -enquired of him at once, ‘Are you any relation to Billy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -Jenkins of the 110th? I used to know him when I was -in India.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh yes,’ returned Blithers cheerfully, ‘he’s my -uncle, and a very good sort too, but,’ he added with -sudden apprehension, ‘please don’t mention him to my -aunt to-morrow, he’s the black sheep of the family.’</p> - -<p>‘Poor old Jenks,’ Mrs. Lomond remarked reflectively, -‘I used to tell him when we were at Jumbulpore that -he’d never come to a good end. His affections were too -shifting; he never stuck to one love for more than a -month.’</p> - -<p>‘Not even his wife,’ remarked Blithers solemnly, as play -proceeded, accompanied by much frivolous conversation.</p> - -<p>Soon after 11.30 Mrs. Lomond rose to go, remarking, -‘It’s very good of you all to have given me such a -pleasant evening. See you in the morning, Reggie.’</p> - -<p>‘Half a mo, Mrs. Lomond,’ said Blithers, as he skipped -down the staircase after her, ‘I’m going your way, may -I see you home?’ And they left together.</p> - -<p>‘Jolly little woman, isn’t she?’ said Reggie. ‘And -clever too; she’s got all the diplomatic posts attached -to her petticoat, and Secretaries of State attend her like -lap dogs. Her husband is, I believe, in Northern -Nigeria,’ he added reflectively as we moved up to bed, -‘and the date of his return is quite uncertain.’</p> - -<p>The next day, Sunday, was that fixed for the great -picnic up at Marston, for which the unwilling Pilot had -been appointed Caterer and General Manager. A -regular fleet of punts had been chartered to convey the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -party, and cushions were piled in stacks, while Woodman’s -express toiled down soon after breakfast under -an immense load of eat- and drinkables. It required -our utmost efforts to arouse de Beresford, who had -finished the previous day and commenced this by an -all-night poker sitting lasting till daylight. By the -time Freddy had got his aunt and Ophelia under weigh, -and we had shepherded the girls from the Cathedral to -the barge, it was very nearly mid-day. The stowing -process took some time, though as I had already secured -Muriel, Maisie and Reggie for my punt, I did not much -mind what happened. We headed the procession, -carrying, I fancy, most of the liquid refreshment, and -punted up stream at a fearful rate under Reggie’s -guidance. We had scarcely passed the Thomas’ ferry -when a fearful yell announced that the Bugg’s parasol -had caught in the rope, and been carried down stream. -It was rescued by a man in a Canader and brought -back to Ophelia, who beamed on the canoeist and said, -‘So kind of you to have reprieved my sunshade.’ This -remark was passed down to the other punts, and -reduced Blithers to such a hopeless state that he declared -himself unable to punt any longer, and retired in -favour of Accrington, who continued to propel the boat -for the rest of the day.</p> - -<p>The party progressed without incident for some time, -during which Reggie, who had contrived that I should -punt, engaged the girls in conversation, which appeared -to afford them immense amusement, but which I could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -not catch; and though I repeatedly begged to share the -joke, their only reply was to shout in chorus, ‘Now do -punt up, we’re hardly moving.’ Their unsympathetic -treatment at length moved me to give up punting, and -balance the pole carefully on Reggie, who after a while -bestirred himself to work.</p> - -<p>‘I wonder,’ remarked Maisie contemplatively, as I -seated myself beside her, ‘whether anything liquid and -cool is obtainable in this department.’</p> - -<p>‘I will see,’ I said, as I foraged in the end and discovered -a jar of Moselle Cup. ‘How’s that?’</p> - -<p>‘Great,’ said Muriel and Maisie in chorus, as they -each held out a glass.</p> - -<p>‘Ah!’ continued Maisie, as she gulped it down and -paused to think, ‘I feel just like that mythological undraped -person, who was always drinking and never -satisfied.’</p> - -<p>‘There must have been lots of them, both the thirsty -and the undraped,’ I said, ‘your description is rather vague.’</p> - -<p>‘Yes, perhaps it is,’ she replied, ‘but anyhow I wish -we adhered to those ancient customs now, except -perhaps that one about not being satisfied.’</p> - -<p>‘I think——,’ I began, when it struck me that my -thoughts had better be suppressed, and I relapsed into -silence.</p> - -<p>By this time we had pretty nearly reached the Rollers, -so we waited for the other punts to come up, that containing -Accrington, de Beresford and Ophelia being -easily last.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Hullo Ophelia!’ cried Freddy as they came up, ‘I -didn’t think it of you, waiting there under the bushes -for such a time with de B. I suppose you felt rather -out of it as gooseberry,’ he continued addressing -Accrington.</p> - -<p>‘My dear Frederick,’ called out Lady Blitherington -from a punt propelled by the perspiring Pilot, ‘pray do -not suggest such awful things. I am surprised at you.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, Aunt, if Ophelia will be such a giddy old thing, -what can you expect?’ Freddy answered, as amid -general confusion we disembarked at the Rollers.</p> - -<p>The Bugg had got as far as ‘You’re that pernicious -to annoy one—’ when her boat hit the landing stage -with a heavy thump, and her further remarks were lost. -I noticed that in the general re-sorting which took place, -the Pilot contrived that Accrington should have the -honour of punting Lady Blitherington while he himself -embarked with Miss MacNeill, who is sometimes described -as ‘amusing’ and sometimes ‘forward,’ it all -depends on the age and sex of the speaker. The Pilot, -who is universally known as an old woman, says that a -mean between the two would probably suit the case.</p> - -<p>‘O Reggie,’ said Mrs. Lomond, as she stepped carefully -out of Freddy’s canoe, ‘do come here for a minute, -the bottom of that canoe was all wet.’</p> - -<p>Reggie trotted gaily forward and marshalled her towards -a disused bathing box following himself with a -dish-cloth, but she gripped the door firmly and said ‘Oh<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> -no, you must send me a girl, this isn’t your innings, go -and field outside.’</p> - -<p>Reg commandeered Muriel, and Mrs. Lomond soon -reappeared smiling, and murmured to me as I helped -her into a punt, ‘I’ll pay Reggie out for that dish-cloth -afterwards.’</p> - -<p>We paddled round to pick up the ladies, and I found -myself in de Beresford’s punt with Sybil Accrington and -the Bugg, who positively declined to move into any -other craft, though we all declared that the boat was -dangerously full. Miss Accrington and I held pleasant -converse amidships, while Ophelia, propped up by a -four-gallon jar of claret cup and two hampers, chattered -cheerfully to de Beresford, who was punting most skilfully. -It is the one form of exercise that the dear old -thing is addicted to, and so we are very careful never to -deprive him of any opportunity to reduce his circumference. -Among other things, I discovered, to my great -gratification, that Sybil would be at the same place with -us in the Vac.—pretty name Sybil.</p> - -<p>The sun was shining brightly, the birds were twittering, -and everything was going beautifully, when the -irresponsible Miss Bugg was nearly guilty of the manslaughter -of all four of us.</p> - -<p>‘Mr. de Beresford,’ she murmured with an ingratiating -smile, ‘do you know I never care to see a musical comedy.’</p> - -<p>‘Indeed, Miss Bugg, and how is that?’ the Pharisee -enquired politely, as he carefully wiped one sleeve and -thereby allowed the water to trickle on to the other.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Well, you see, I disapprove most strongly of all -those ballet girls looking like Lady Saliva in the streets -of Coventry.’</p> - -<p>De Beresford surveyed her solemnly for half a minute -and then dropped the pole and collapsed heavily on to a -heap of cushions, while Miss Bugg, who takes herself -very seriously, prattled on about the elevating influence -of Shakespeare.</p> - -<p>We glided quietly and peacefully into the bank, and -there we stuck till the Pilot came along and pulled us -off, but the Pharisee was too exhausted to renew his -labours, and I was obliged to take his place till we -reached Marston. We arrived there first with the -Pilot, and the others turned up at intervals, each punt -bringing a goodly assortment of hampers and stone -jars.</p> - -<p>At last we had all assembled, the cloths were laid -on a nice piece of level grass, and the Dowager was -comfortably settled on an air pillow and a collection -of punt cushions, when Ophelia emitted a melancholy -gurgle and cried tearfully,</p> - -<p>‘I’ve forgotten Lady Blitherington’s little flask.’</p> - -<p>‘Pas beaucoup, Ophelia,’ chortled his lordship, as he -produced a very diminutive silver bottle from the lining -of his panama and gave it to the Bugg. ‘I knew -you’d lose it, old girl, so I just took the liberty of removing -it from your pocket when we landed at the -rollers.’</p> - -<p>Ophelia heaved a sigh of satisfaction and settled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -down beside the Dowager, while we all bestowed -ourselves conveniently around the cloth, each one as -far as possible next to the lady of his choice.</p> - -<p>‘A little of the pink fish with the yellow blanket, -thank you, Mr. Cochrane,’ said Maisie cheerfully as I -offered her a variety of tasty dishes; the Pilot talked -a lot about that picnic, but he certainly managed it -very well all the same.</p> - -<p>Blitherington, who was seated only a few feet off, in -fact just the other side of Muriel, was what Maisie -described as ‘on the war-path,’ and we heard him -asking Miss MacNeill some most exciting riddles. He -absolutely refused to share them with us, until Reggie -handed him a dish of cold chicken and ham, and then -after looking at it solemnly for half a minute he -turned his anxious gaze on me and enquired ‘Do you -know, my ancient lord of creation, why hotel chickens -are like ballet-girls?’</p> - -<p>‘No,’ I answered feebly, I always seem to say ‘no,’ -when I’m asked anything catchy, I don’t think a fine -frank open nature like mine is adapted to discovering -puzzles.</p> - -<p>The incorrigible Blithers just chirruped ungrammatically -‘It’s because they’re all legs;’ and by the time -Lady Blitherington had turned her lorgnettes in his -direction he was busily engaged carving a saddle of -lamb for his fair neighbour.</p> - -<p>‘Don’t encourage him, Mr. Cochrane,’ Muriel whispered -to me, ‘If Blithers once gets loose he’s apt to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -travel quite a distance, and he only begins where -Auntie draws the line.’</p> - -<p>‘What’s that about drawing the line?’ asked Miss -MacNeill, leaning across towards Muriel with a bewitching -smile.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I only said Blitherington goes a long way before -he thinks it necessary to draw it,’ Muriel replied.</p> - -<p>‘It all depends what sort of a line you are talking -about,’ Blitherington put in, ‘I know some ladies in -evening dress who never seem to be going to draw a -line at all.’</p> - -<p>‘Tut, Blithers,’ said Muriel, ‘you’d pervert an ecclesiastical -synod.’</p> - -<p>‘Not much,’ returned the incorrigible peer, ‘I couldn’t -spare the time. Suffering Sosthenes,’ he added after a -pause, ‘just listen to Ophelia, she mixes her metaphors -like those Reading birds do their biscuits.’</p> - -<p>At this moment Reggie, who had risen to search for -the salt, created a sufficient diversion by sitting down -in the remains of the salmon mayonnaise, and was accordingly -compelled to take off his coat and wear Mr. -Accrington’s aquascutum for the rest of the day. Lady -Blitherington, who was much exercised by the unfortunate -contretemps, very kindly offered him her purple -velvet cloak, but he declined the proffered honour with -thanks. The general attention was distracted from the -unfortunate Reggie by Blithers, who had discovered -Accrington and Muriel seated behind a tree discussing -rabbit-pie and other things.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> - -<p>The most amusing thing about Accrington is the -changefulness of his affections; he has, as Reggie remarked -not long ago, the most expansive and expensive -heart in Oxford. Only a week ago two of his ‘best -girls’ arrived together quite unexpectedly and held -prolonged and wordy warfare in his rooms until they -caught sight of some photos of a third ‘best girl,’ when -they buried the hatchet and tore up the other girl’s -photos together. It may be added that when the third -girl herself arrived a day or two later, her rage at finding -none of her portraits on exhibition was only appeased -by an even more costly gift than usual. These facts -being well known among his friends, we were not a -little amused to see that he had attached himself like -a leech to Muriel for the last three days, weather and -Reggie permitting.</p> - -<p>‘What about the Babes in the Wood?’ yelled Blitherington -with his most aggravating smile, as Muriel peered -round the corner.</p> - -<p>‘Oh! they haven’t arrived yet,’ she replied, ‘but what -do you mean?’</p> - -<p>Unfortunately this mystery was never cleared up, as -Blithers returned to the family circle and was busily -engaged in feeding Jacob on chocolate creams, which -the faithful animal, to employ a euphemism, soon contrived -to unswallow in a secluded portion of the meadow.</p> - -<p>As I turned to help Mrs. Accrington, who was most -usefully employed in showing an awkward squad how -to wash dishes, a voice behind me murmured,</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘Oh, Mr. Cochrane, please take me somewhere and -give me a cigarette, I simply daren’t smoke before the -Dowager.’</p> - -<p>Personally I always affect a certain brand of leaf-covered -invention known to the trade as cigarillos, but -I obtained a supply of thin gold-tipped cigarettes from -Reggie, who always keeps a selection of strange apparatus -in his cigarette-case.</p> - -<p>As we climbed over a gate and sat down behind the -nearest hedge Mrs. Lomond remarked, ‘Good boy, Reggie, -I met him when I was out at Cannes for the Ladies -golf matches; he did everything for me except sign my -card.’</p> - -<p>‘He’s a born organizer,’ I said; ‘the anti-dons campaign -that he arranged in Cecil’s prospered as no such -enterprise has ever done before, and he doped the porter -so successfully that the only name found on his black -book next morning was that of an inoffensive Scholar -who was visiting a sick aunt in Penzance.’</p> - -<p>‘I wish,’ she said, ‘that you and he would come up to -town next week, and help me run our theatricals at the -“Regality” in aid of the “Home for Helpless Hairdressers;” -it’s bound to be a great success, the Duke is -coming at half-time, and I’ll introduce you to some of -the prettiest girls. If you like to wear an apron and -carry a shaving brush in your hand you might even -sell programmes,’ she added with the air of one who -makes a great concession.</p> - -<p>‘That’s all right for me,’ I put in, ‘but don’t you think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -that Reggie’s heart is full enough already, and yet stay,’ -I added, ‘there is still room for a few more in bin twenty-three.’</p> - -<p>‘How much do you expect to clear,’ I asked her after -a short pause.</p> - -<p>‘O several thousand,’ she said cheerfully. ‘You see the -Duchess of Dopingburgh is kissing all comers at half-a-crown -a time, and Violet MacNeill is going to serve at -the American bar. But I think we’d better be going -back,’ she added, ‘if we don’t want to be left here for -the night.’</p> - -<p>As we regained the scene of the orgy, Freddy gathered -up all the remaining cloths and thrust them into a small -trunk, while Mr. Accrington sat upon it and tried to turn -the lock without much success.</p> - -<p>‘There they are,’ cried Blithers as we appeared, ‘now -let’s be going.’</p> - -<p>‘What punt are you going in, Ophelia?’ Freddy enquired.</p> - -<p>‘Oh, I’ll go in the most aggressive one,’ Miss Bugg -replied with a pleasant smile, ‘I’m all for going fast.’</p> - -<p>And so we embarked in a most amiable mood. The -return journey was more or less uneventful, though my -conversation with Violet MacNeill was quite the reverse. -The unfortunate de Beresford who punted us down must -have had a very poor time, for Blithers and Mrs. Lomond -were much too busily engaged to pay any attention to -him.</p> - -<p>As we proceeded up the Broad Walk Mrs. Accrington<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -sidled up to me and enquired with evident anxiety, ‘How -do you think Steve is getting on with his work? he -writes us such cheering letters, but we saw Mr. Yelland -to-day and he seemed most despondent.’</p> - -<p>‘O the Yelper is always a Job’s Comforter, Mrs. Accrington,’ -I said, ‘besides poor old Stephen’s quite a -model worker.’</p> - -<p>This seemed to satisfy the anxious parent, and I -guided the conversation into less dangerous channels. -Before the various families split up we made arrangements -for a round of sight seeing on the following day, -which was to finish with the James’ Ball. On the morrow -all my time was taken up with an old friend of the -family who had come down for the day, and I had to -undergo all the sufferings of a hired guide round Oxford -who doesn’t know his subject well. I contrived however -to send her off soon after tea, and gained comparative -rest by a couple of hours’ bridge in Farmborough’s -rooms. We all dined with Mr. Accrington at the Hyde, -and started about 9.0 for the ball, gathering the famille -Blitherington as we passed their hotel. After introducing -as many people as possible to all the girls, I completely -lost track of the party till about supper-time, -being mostly engaged with my No. 1. girl from Somerville -who is a very cheery little body but suffers from -worker’s conscience, a most distressing weakness which -prevents me seeing very much of her except at occasional -dances. A ball at Oxford is a wonderfully pretty -sight, and well calculated to impress anybody seeing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -one for the first time. All the men and the girls are -young and fresh, and there is a complete absence of the -doddering old men and young women of fifty who give -a sad tone to big dances in London and elsewhere. The -handsome quads of James’ were most artistically lighted -with myriads of fairy lights and Chinese lanterns, and -the beautiful old-world gardens twinkled, though not -too brightly, with wonderful devices in red and yellow. -Supper was laid in the fine hall of the College and I -secured two seats for Muriel and myself under a famous -Archbishop who has been dead for over three hundred -years, and beside Blithers and Mrs. Lomond, who were -very much alive.</p> - -<p>‘Martha,’ said Blitherington, as I sat down, ‘try some -of this fizz, it’s quite innocuous.’</p> - -<p>‘What is it,’ I said, ‘Robinson pere et fils?’</p> - -<p>‘O no,’ he replied, ‘it’s one of the non-poisonous -varieties this time.’</p> - -<p>However, Blitherington was apparently at fault, for I -heard a warning voice behind me saying, ‘I wouldn’t -try none o’ that, if I was you, sir,’ and I turned to see -our old scout Webster who had apparently been imported -for the evening, ‘There’s somethin’ hin the Buttery -as might suit you, sir,’ he added. ‘There’s honly -heighteen bottles been hordered an them for the Committee, -but I dessay as ’ow I can get yer two.’</p> - -<p>I clearly saw that this meant a Christmas-box to Webster, -but readily assented as one always does on such occasions, -and the two bottles were speedily forthcoming.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> - -<p>After supper I had a peaceful waltz with Miss Accrington; -and subsequently conducted Miss MacNeill to a -dark staircase in the second Quad.</p> - -<p>‘It seems to me,’ she remarked after we had mounted -a flight and settled ourselves in someone’s rooms, ‘It -seems to me that the world is about equally divided -between the loved and the unloved, and the great thing -is to avoid being in the second class.’</p> - -<p>‘Well, of course we know which lot you’re in,’ I -replied quickly.</p> - -<p>‘That’s very nice of you, Marth—, I mean Mr. -Cochrane, but I was just thinking of the terrible number -of girls who go through all this kind of thing and -linger on to become sour old maids.’</p> - -<p>Although at that particular moment I happened to be -holding Miss MacNeill’s hand in order to keep it warm, -it is quite impossible that that could have been any -reason for her squeezing it affectionately, and sighing -softly; however, it was very stimulating, and I went on -to say,</p> - -<p>‘I believe the proportion of men to women in the -world is about two to three, even including black men, -and I’m sure you wouldn’t marry a Fijian or a Sandwichman.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, why not,’ she put in, ‘I think a Pacific islander -would make such a desirable husband. You’d know -such a lot about him before your marriage.’</p> - -<p>‘Whatever do you mean, Violet?’ I asked.</p> - -<p>‘On, no,’ she said, ‘I only mean that on a little coral<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -island everybody would be sure to know all about their -neighbours, so that you wouldn’t be likely to get hold of -a post-nuptial surprise packet, and anyhow, he’d be -bound to be Pacific.’</p> - -<p>It was at this precise moment that Feltham, the owner -of the rooms and a distant cousin of mine, arrived and -remarked apologetically, ‘I’m awfully sorry that there’s -only that one chair in the room, but the fact is they’ve -commandeered all my best for the Ladies’ Cloaker at the -bottom of the staircase—’, but here I noticed that Violet -had departed with unusual shyness, and so I too withdrew -hastily, leaving the owner surveying his apartment -with a puzzled expression.</p> - -<p>As I reached the Quad a soft little hand was linked -in to my arm, and Violet enquired anxiously, ‘Do you -think he thought anything?’</p> - -<p>‘Oh no,’ I replied, ‘he couldn’t have, besides he -wouldn’t say anything if he did.’</p> - -<p>‘Oh, all right, take me to get an ice, will you, Frank,’ -she said shyly, ‘it was so awfully hot up there, wasn’t -it?’</p> - -<p>I satisfied the fair lady with a marvellous icy rose -with vanilla petals and strawberry leaves in a little -white frilling of Japanese paper, and soon afterwards -found myself dancing a most energetic set of lancers -with Maisie.</p> - -<p>As we were leaving the floor after it was over, Maisie -said to me with a bewitching smile, ‘Have you found my -cosy corner?’</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> - -<p>‘I don’t see how anybody could find one with so many -people about,’ I very naturally responded.</p> - -<p>‘O yes you can,’ she said, ‘come along, I’ll soon show -it you.’ And she guided me to a most beautiful arbour -in the garden, where we watched the mysterious romantic -world outside crawling in and out among the countless -little red lights like a scene out of some worm and fire-fly -carnival.</p> - -<p>‘Here it is,’ she said as she settled herself carefully -and with an eye to effect. I should always have thought -that Maisie would have been rather a careless girl, but -you ought never to attempt to judge women till you have -seen a good deal of them; and even then you are apt to -be a bit previous.</p> - -<p>I enjoyed myself immensely, and Maisie’s behaviour -was most improper, in fact I don’t know what her Aunt -would have said, for she consumed three cigarettes.</p> - -<p>However, all good things must come to an end, and -after wasting two waltzes and a barn-dance on me, -Maisie said that we really must return to the Ball-tent.</p> - -<p>This was the first Quad, which had been entirely -roofed over, and a beautifully swung floor put in, while -all the passages and archways were carpeted and the -grim old walls hung with flags and festooned draperies -of the James’ colours.</p> - -<p>Lady Blitherington had enjoyed her evening, for the -Bursar of James’ was a former tutor in her family and -had behaved like a hero to her and Ophelia throughout<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -the dance; as the Bugg said to me on our way home: -‘It was one of the most absorbent evenings I have ever -spent.’</p> - -<p>After Freddy and I had seen the old ladies back to the -Granville we returned to James’ for the photo, which was -taken in the second Quad by three separate photographers, -who spent about twenty minutes over preliminaries -and only as many seconds over the actual -operation.</p> - -<p>It had long been daylight when I regained our digs -and crept quietly into my room without awaking the -Pilot or Reggie, not that either of them deserved any -consideration, for the Pilot who sleeps next to me snores -like a foghorn, while Reggie very frequently returns -from town by the Dons’ lubricator about two a.m. and -makes enough noise to stampede a herd of wild bulls.</p> - -<p>Tired as everyone must have been, we were all up by -12, and saw the Accringtons off for Manchester, -being especially dismal on saying farewell to the -charming Sybil.</p> - -<p>There was a general move again in the afternoon, -when the Dowager and her party left for town by the -4.20, only leaving behind Blitherington who, on hearing -that Mrs. Lomond did not go till Wednesday, refused -to budge. Miss Bugg’s last remark to the effect that -‘her head was going round like one of those aerated -fans,’ failed to raise even a smile from Reggie.</p> - -<p>The Dowager extended a cordial invitation to all of -us to visit her in town, which was seconded warmly in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -my case by Maisie, on whom I flatter myself—but no -I won’t say what I thought, lest I be accused of vanity, -besides there is Sybil as well.</p> - -<p>It seemed, as the Pilot remarked, very dull after they -had all gone; and the horrible flirtation carried on by -Mrs. Lomond and her admirer failed to arouse us from -the depths of despondency, only partially lightened by -Cecil’s doing its fourth bump on Wednesday afternoon, -and the prospect of what Reggie called a ‘roaring old -bump-supper.’ Perhaps, as Squiff said, when I suddenly -discovered my Finals to be only two weeks distant, -‘If you have your fun you must expect to pay for -it.’ So I consider a drop from a possible second in -Law to a certain third was not expensive.</p> - -<p class="titlepage">OXFORD<br /> -BURROWS AND DOE, PRINTERS<br /> -THE HOLYWELL PRESS</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Red Paint at Oxford, by -Anonymous (AKA Pish and Tush) - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RED PAINT AT OXFORD *** - -***** This file should be named 52875-h.htm or 52875-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/7/52875/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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