Part 8 (1/2)

”Perhaps you'll be surprised at our simple repast, Verdant,” said Mr

Larkyns; ”but it's ourand late hours: the ht oil, you know, ets strained to excess, and you have to call in the doctor Well, what does he do? Why, he prescribes a regular course of tonics; and I flatter myself that I aularly, and without co pull at the pewter

”But you know, Larkyns,” observed Mr Sot laid up with elephantiasis on the biceps of the lungs, and had a fur coat in ly; ”and was that also through too much study?”

”Why, of course!” replied Mr S else - fro surpass the bitters Talk of the pleasures of the dead languages, indeed! why, how hts have you and I, Larkyns, passed 'down a the dead men!' ”

Charles Larkyns had just been looking over the letter which

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 65]

Verdant had brought hiovernor writes that you'd like me to put you up to the ways of the place, because they are fresh to you, and you are fresh (aheht, tomen (eh, Smalls?), and I daresay Smalls will do the civil, and ask you also”

”Certainly!” said Mr Shted, I assure you! I hope to see you - after <vg065jpg> Hall, you know, - but I hope you don't object to a very quiet party?”

”Oh, dear no!” replied Verdant; ”I much prefer a quiet party; indeed, I have always been used to quiet parties; and I shall be very glad to come”

”Well, that's settled then,” said Charles Larkyns; ”and, in the mean time, Verdant, let us take a prowl about the old place, and I'll put you up to a thing or two, and shew you soet your cap and gown, old fellow, and then by that time I'll be ready for you”

Whether there are really any sights in Oxford that are more especially devoted, or adapted, to its freshmen, ill not

[66 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

undertake to affirm; but if there are, they could not have had a better expositor than Mr Charles Larkyns, or a more credible visitor than Mr Verdant Green

His credibility was rather strongly put to the test as they <vg066-1jpg> turned into the High Street, when his companion directed his attention to an individual on the opposite side of the street, with a voluown, and enorold lace ”I suppose you knoho that is, Verdant?

No! Why, that's the Bishop of Oxford! Ah, I see, he's a very different-looking man to what you had expected; but then these university robes so change the appearance That is his official dress, as the Visitor of the Ash ”sed” this, his friend was thereby enabled, not only to use up old ”sells,” but also to draw largely on his invention for new ones Just then, there ca procession, - the Vice-Chancellor, with his Esquire and Yeoentlemen, made thely Mr Larkyns seized the favourable opportunity to point out the foremost bedel, and say, ”You see that man with the poker and loose cap? Well, that's the Vice-Chancellor”

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”But what does he walk in procession for?” inquired our freshed to do it” 'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,' you know; and he can never go anywhere, or do anything, without carrying that poker, and having the other minor pokers to follow hiht Two of the pokers stand on each side his bed, and relieve each other every two hours So, I need hardly say, that he is obliged to be a bachelor”

”It must be a very wearisome office,” remarked our freshman, who fully believed all that was told to him

”Wearisoed to change the Vice-Chancellors so often It would

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 67]

kill th, - and height,” he added, as a brilliant idea just struck <vg067-1jpg> hie, where one of the fire-plug notices had caught Mr Larkyns' eye ”You see that,” he said; ”well, that's one of the plates they put up to record the Vice's height FP 7 feet, you see: the initials of his name, - Frederick Plumptre!”