Part 17 (1/2)

assisted by Mr Bouncer's instructions, would gradually remove

However, Mr Verdant Green had, at any rate, ceased to be ”a Freshman” in name; and had received that University promotion, which Mr Charles Larkyns co ~affiche~, which our hero, on his return fro chapel in the Michaelmas term, found in a conspicuous position on his oak,

COMMISSION SIGNED BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

MR VERDANT GREEN to be an Oxford Undergraduate, ~vice~ Oxford Freshenerally found to be the case, that the youthful Undergraduate first seeks to prove he is no longer a ”Fresh to i

[126 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

gentlemen who come up as freshy between the biped and the quadruped; for, the wild, gaht into a new circle, and has been trained to new habits, will take pleasure in ensnaring and deluding his late companions in play

The ”sells” by which our hero had been ”sold out” as a Freshraduate, which his experience enabled him to dispose of (with considerable interest) to the enerations of Freshone through a- to survive it - than Mr Verdant Green; and yet, by a system of retaliation, only paralleled by the quadrupedal case of the before-mentioned elephant, and the biped-beadle case of the illustrious Mr bu his own ears boxed by the late Mrs Corney, relieved his feelings by boxing the ears of the sreatest delight in seeking every opportunity to play off upon a Freshman some one of those numerous hoaxes which had been so successfully practised on hi to the early part of his University career, he omitted all mention of such anecdotes as displayed his own personal credulity in the strongest light - which anecdotes the faithful historian has thought fit to record, - he, nevertheless, dith extreme pleasure on the reminiscences of a few isolated facts, in which he himself appeared in the character of the hoaxer

These facts, when neatly garnished with a little fiction, made very palatable dishes for University entertainment, and were served up by our hero, when he went ”down into the country,” to select parties of relatives and friends (NB - Fe hoax formed Mr Verdant Green's ~piece de resistance~

CHAPTER II

MR VERDANT GREEN DOES AS HE HAS BEEN DONE BY

ONEin the venerable gateway of Brazenface The for disposition, waspopular airs to the Porter's pet bullfinch, as laboriously engaged on a s up his private supply of water Mr Bouncer, being of athe Porter's opinion

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 127]

on the foreign policy of Great Britain, and byvery audible reth riveted by the appearance on the other side of the street, of a entleman, who appeared to be so ill at ease in his frock-coat and ”stick-up” collars, as to lead to the strong presumption that he wore those articles of manly dress for the first tilamps,” said little Mr

Bouncer, as he directed our hero's attention to the stranger, ”that this respected party is an intending Freshman Look at his customary suits of solemn black, as Othello, or Hamlet, or soo-to-entleman, in the tone of a ork showman; ”please to ~h~observe the pecooliarity hof the hair-chain, likewise the straps of the period Look! he's colamps, I vote we take a rise out of the youth He you in anything?”

”Yes, sir! thank you, sir,” replied the youthful stranger, as flushi+ng like a girl up to the very roots of his curly, auburn hair; ”perhaps, sir, you can direct e, sir?”

”Well, sir! it's not at all improbable, sir, but what I could, sir;”

replied Mr Bouncer; ”but, perhaps, sir, you'll first favour me with your name, and your business there, sir”

”Certainly, sir!” rejoined the stranger; and, while he fumbled at his card-case, the experienced Mr Bouncer whispered to our hero, ”Told you he was a sucking Freshot a bran new card-case, and says 'sir' at the sight of the academicals” The card handed to Mr Bouncer, bore the name of ”MR JAMES PUCKER;” and, in smaller characters in the corner of the card, were the words, ”~Brazenface College, Oxford~”

”I ca Mr Pucker, ”to enter for entleman ill have to examine me, sir”

”The doose you do!” said Mr Bouncer sternly; ”then young one and done it, and put your foot in it most completely”

”Ho, how, sir?” stammered the dupe

”How?” replied Mr Bouncer, still more sternly; ”do youhow? What ~could~ have induced you, sir, to have had printed on this card the na to it - it may be for years, it rievous offence against the University statutes, young gentleentleman here -

[128 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]