Part 21 (1/2)

So Mr Verdant Green, reluctantly, it must be confessed, suffered himself to be persuaded to join that section of the Gohich was to be placed under the leadershi+p of the redoubted Pet; while little Mr

Bouncer, who had gone up into Mr Sloe's rooentle ~own, and forthwith invested the Pet with it

”I don't mind this 'ere mortar-board, sir,” remarked the professor of the noble art of self-defence, as he pointed to the academical cap which surmounted his head, ”I don't mind the mortar-board, sir; but I shall never be able to do nothink with this 'ere toggery on my shudders I couldn't use my mawleys no how!” And the Pet illustrated his reinary opponent in a feeble and unscientific fashi+on

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 145]

”But you can tie the tail-curtain round your shoulders - like this!”

said Mr Fosbrooke, as he twisted his on tightly round him

But the Pet had taken a decided objection to the drapery: ”The costume would interfere with the action,” as Mr Foote rereat practice”

”You see, sir,” said the Pet, ”I ain't used to the feel of it, and I couldn't go to business properly, or give a straight nosender no how

But the mortar-board ain't of so reed that the Pet was to wear the academicals until he had arrived at the scene of action, where he could then pocket the gown, and resula-powder!” said little Mr Bouncer to our hero, as the party were on the point of sallying forth; ”it'll ine with the chill off” And, as Mr Bouncer whispered to Charles Larkyns,

”So he kept his spirits up By pouring spirits down,”

Verdant - who felt extremely nervous, either fro ht of so or the college pump; for it first took away his breath, and h, and endeavour to choke himself; and it then made his face flush, and caused him to declare that ”the first snob who 'sulted hilamps!” cried little Mr Bouncer, as he patted hiht sort of fellow for a Town and Gown, after all!”

CHAPTER IV

MR VERDANT GREEN DISCOVERS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOWN AND GOWN

IT was ten minutes past nine, and Toates to be shut, when the wine party, which had just left Mr Bouncer's room, passed round the corner of St Mary's, and dashed across the High The Town and Gown had already begun

---The great bell of Christ Church It tolls 101 ti 101 students on the foundation) and ates

”Toed to Oseney Abbey, and weighs about 17,000 pounds, being reat bell of St Paul's

[146 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

As usual, the Town had taken the initiative; and, in a dense body, hadall before theallant exploit had been accomplished to the entire satisfaction of the oppidans, the Town had separated into two or three portions, which had betaken theone where glory waited the for the blood, or, at any rate, for the bloody noses of the gowned aristocrats Woe betide the luckless gownsman, who, on such an occasion, ventures abroad without an escort, or trusts to his own unassisted powers to defend himself! He is forthwith pounced upon by some score of valiant Townsmen, who are on the watch for these favourable opportunities for a display of their personal prowess, and he et back to his College with nothing worse than black eyes and bruises It is so seldom that the e afforded the their fists on the faces and persons of the et the chance, they are unwilling to let it slip through their fingers

Dark tales have, indeed, been told, of solitary and unoffending undergraduates having, on such occasions, not only received a severe handling froh their agency, bound by their own leading strings to the rails of the Radcliffe, and there left ignole, and shout for assistance And darker tales still have been told of luckless Gowns” fashi+on to the very banks of the Isis, and there ducked, amidst the jeers and taunts of their persecutors But such tales as these are of too dreadful a nature for the conversation of Gownsmen, and are very properly believed to be ated by the Town

The crescent ht

To light ~the, - which quickly ers' ends, - was heard co from the direction of Oriel Street; and a ser body, appeared,as they fell back, but driven by superior numbers up the narrow street, by St Mary's Hall, and past the side of Spiers's shop into the High Street

”Gown to the rescue!” shouted Mr Blades as he dashed across the street; ”come on, Pet! here we are in the thick of it, just in the nick of time!” and, closely followed by Charles Larkyns, Mr

Fosbrooke, Mr Smalls, Mr Bouncer, Mr Flexible

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 147]