Part 6 (1/2)

Now that Mr Green had seen all that he wished to see, nothing ree his hotel bill It was accordingly called for, and produced by the waiter, whose face - by a visitation of that coainst which vaccination is usually considered a safeguard - had been reduced to a

---See the Oxford Statutes, tit xiv, ”De vestitu et habitu scholastico”

+ Ditto, tit xv, ”De moribus conformandis”

[48 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

state resee froarded the document that had been put into his hand, it is probable that he had not been much accustomed to Oxford hotels; for he ran over the several items of the bill with a look in which surprise contended with indignation for the mastery, while the muffin-faced waiter handled his plated salver, and looked fixedly at nothing

Mr Green, however, refraining froreatcoat and travelling-cap, he prepared himself to take a coham and Oxford coach It was not loaded in the same way that it had been when he caers were of a very different description; and it must be confessed that, in the absence of Mr Bouncer's tin horn, the attacks of intrusive terriers, and the involuntary fuh its presence was still perceptible within the coach), Mr Green found his journey ~froreeable than it had been ~to~ that place He took an affectionate farewell of his son, soe; and then the coach bore hi look of our hero, who felt any thing but heroic <vg048jpg> at being left for the first tie had been sent up to Brazenface, so thither he turned his steps, and with some little difficulty found his roos, and had left everything uncomfortable and in ”the most admired disorder”; and Mr Verdant Green sat hined hihts

If they had not already flown to the Manor Green, they would soon have been carried there; for a Geran to play ”Home, sweet home,” with that truth and delicacy of expression which the wandering minstrels of Germany seem to acquire intuitively The sweet melancholy

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 49]

of the simple air, as it came subdued by distance into softer tones, would have powerfully affected most people who had just been torn froht, all inexperienced, the battle of life; but it had such an effect on Mr Verdant Green, that - but it little ive way to feelings in private that they would stifle in company; and if Mr Filcher on his return found hishis spectacles, why that was only a silasses frequently require

To divert his thoughts, and to impress upon himself and others the fact that he was an Oxford MAN, our fresh of the gown <vg049jpg> about his shoulders e of his arht cane, which he considered would greatly add to the effect of the cap and gown Armed with this weapon, he proceeded to disport himself in the Christ Church meadows, and promenaded up and down the Broad Walk

The beautifultrees threw a softened light, and reat Broad Walk; ”witch-elravel-walks that wound with the windings of the Cherwell; the drooping ere s in the trees there were gli the banks, the Isis shi+ning like es and boats; then another stretch of green meadows; then a cloud of stea hills It was a cheerful scene, and the variety of figures gave life and ani ladies and unprotected fe variety of light spring dresses; and, as reat deal of their attention, and afforded them no small amusement But the unusual and terrific appearance of a spectacled

[50 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

<vg050-1jpg> gowns the juveniles, who i>

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 51]

of beadle or Bogy, suorous discipline a his cane as the symbol of his stern sway, they harassed their nurse at their petticoats for protection

Altogether, Mr Verdant Green made quite a sensation

CHAPTER VI

MR VERDANT GREEN DINES, BREAKFASTS, AND GOES TO CHAPEL

OUR hero dressed hiht make his first appearance in Hall with proper ~eclat~ - and, having , he walked up the steps and under the groined archith a crowd of hungry undergraduates ere hurrying in to dinner The clatter of plates would have alone been sufficient to guide his steps; and, passing through one of the doors in the elaborately carved screen that shut off the passage and the buttery, he found himself within the hall of Brazenface It was of noble size, lighted by lofty s, and carried up to a great height by an open roof, dark (save where it opened to the lantern) with great oak beailded bosses The aiate ave an idea of the dies In the centre of the hall was a huge plate-ware arested, on all sides; their arlass; and their faces peered out froh their shadows loved to linger about the spot that had been benefited by their substance At the further end of the hall a deep bay- threw its painted light upon a dais, along which stretched the table for the Dons; Masters and Bachelors occupied side-tables; and the other tables were filled up by the undergraduates; every one, froown

Our hero was considerably iular character of the scene; and frorace-before-azed curiously around him in silent wonderment So much indeed was he wrapped up in the novelty of the scene, that he ran a great risk of losing his dinner The scouts fled about in all directions with plates, and glasses, and pewter dishes, and one round the tables

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for the last two centuries, and still no one waited upon Mr Verdant Green He twice ventured to timidly say, ”Waiter!” but as no one answered to his call, and as he was too bashful and occupied with his own thoughts to make another attempt, it is probable that he would have risen froht-hand co partly relieved his oants) perceived his neighbour to be a freshin your dinner, because we don't stay here long <vg052jpg> What is your scout's name?” And when he had been told it, he turned to Mr Filcher and asked hi on his ratuitous threats, had the effect of bringing that gentle Mr Verdant Green to a state ofhis scout's pardon were confusedly blended Not seeing any dishes upon the table to select from, he referred to the list, and fell back on the standard roast beef

”I a to his friendly neighbour ”My roo driven by you on the coach the other day”