Part 46 (1/2)

Mr Verdant Green had also a dozy idea that he was guided into a carriage by a hand that lay lovingly upon his arm; and, that he shook a variety of less delicate hands that there were thrust out to him in hearty northern fashi+on; and, that the two cracked old bells of Lasthope Churchpeal, and only succeeded in producingof bees; and, that he ju and God-blessings; and, that he heard the carriage-steps and door shut to with a clang; and that he felt a sensation of being whirled on byscenery; and, that he found the carriage tenanted by one other person, and that person, his WIFE

”My darling wife! My dearest wife! My oife!” It was all that his heart could find to say It was sufficient, for the present, to ring the tuneful changes on that novel word, and to clasp the little hand that trembled under its load of happiness, and to press that little e should conjure such wonders and delights

The wedding breakfast - which was attended, a others, by Mr and Mrs Poletiss (~nee~ Morkins), and by Charles Larkyns and his wife, as now

”The mother of the sweetest littlebreakfast, notwithstanding that it was such a substantial reality, appeared to Mr Verdant Green's bewildered eant of a dreaaiety of conversation that is inherent to bridal banquets, and toasts were proclaimed and honoured, and speeches were made - indeed, he himself made one, of which he could not recall a word Sufficient let it be for our present purpose, therefore, to briefly record the speech of Mr Bouncer, as deputed to return thanks for the duplicate bodies of bridesmaids

Mr Bouncer (ith soe in Oriental figurativeness of expression) was understood to observe, that on interesting occasions like the present, it was the custoroomsman to return thanks on behalf of the bridesest, had considered hih the task was a pleasing one, yet it was one of fearful responsibility It was usually regarded as a sufficiently difficult and hazardous experientlele lady; but when, as in the present case, there were ten single ladies, whose unknown opinions had to be conveyed through the entleman, then the experi-

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 313]

ht well shrink He confessed that he experienced these emotions of timidity on the present occasion (~Cries of ”Oh!”~) He felt, that to adequately discharge the duties entrusted would require the ine of ten-bridess overcame him (~Renewed cries of ”Oh!”~) Under these circuht that he had better take his leave of the subject, convinced that the reply to the toast would beeyes of the ten blooreat approbation~)

Then the brides disappeared, and after a ti dresses Then there were tears and ”doubtful joys,” and blessings, and farewells, and the departure of the two carriages-and-four (under a brisk fire of old shoes) to the nearest railway station, from whence the happy couples set out, the one for Paris, the other for the cumberland Lakes; and it was amid those romantic lakes, with their mountains and waterfalls, that Mr

Verdant Green sipped the sweets of the honeymoon, and realized the stupendous fact that he was a married man

The honeymoon had barely passed, and Noveain to be seen in Oxford - a bachelor only in the University sense of the terh Street Mr Bouncer was also there, and had prevailed upon Verdant to invite his sister fanny to join them and be properly chaperoned by Mrs Verdant For, that wedding-day in Northuentleman's determination to refrain from the wedded state, and he could now say with Benedick, ”When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married” But Miss fanny Green had looked so particularly char in her bridesmaid's dress, that little Mr

Bouncer was inspired with the notable idea, that he should like to see her playing first fiddle, and attired in the stillthis inspiration (couched, it e) to Miss fanny, he found that the young lady was far fro him to carry out his idea; and in further conversation with her, it was settled that she should follow the exaed” to the Rev Josiah Meek, now the rector of a Worcestershi+re parish), and consider herself as ”engaged” to Mr

Bouncer Which facetious idea of the little gentle accepted and agreed to by the

[314 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

young lady's parents and ”the Mued”prepared as soon as possible to follow the example of Mr and Mrs Verdant Green Before Verdant could ”put on his gown,” certain preliminaries had to be observed First, he had to call, as a e, to whom he had to show his Testaht put on his gown

”Oh yes!” replied Dr Port aloud froht-ed to know that you had pass-ed and that you have been such a cred-it to your col-lege You will o-bligeyour-self to the Dean of Arts” And then Dr Port, and resumed his favourite study of the Greek particles

Then, at an appointed hour in the evening, Verdant, in coe, went to the Dean of Arts, who heard theh the Thirty-nine Articles, and disentle> I shall expect to see you at the Divinity School in the own, and fees; and be sure, gentle Verdant takes Patty to the Schools, and coe of Mr Bouncer, who conducts her and Miss fanny to one of the raised seats in the Convocation House, frorees Mr Verdant Green finds the

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 315]

precincts of the Schools tenanted by droves of college Butlers, Porters, and Scouts, hanging about for the usual fees and old gowns, and carrying blue bags, in which are the nens Then - having seen that Mr Robert Filcher is in attendance with his own particular gown - he struggles through the Pig- Bedels and University Marshals, and other officials Then, as opportunity offers, he presents hie Valentine cox, Esq, who sits behind a table, and, in his polite and scholarly manner, puts the usual questions to him, and permits him, on the due paye book, and to place ”Fil Gen”+ after his autograph Then he has to wait sorees are conferred, and the Doctors and Masters have taken their seats, and the Proctors have made their apparently insane promenade++

Then the Deans come into the ante-chaes are duly present, properly dressed, and have faithfully paid the fees Then, when the Deans, having satisfactorily ascertained these facts, have gone back again into the Convocation House, the Yeoman Bedel rushes forth with his silver ”poker,” and summons all the Bachelors, in a very precipitate and far froentlemen! please all of you to come in! you're wanted!” Then the Bachelors enter the Convocation House in a troop, and stand in the area, in front of the Vice-Chancellor and the two Proctors Then are these young ers present, especially by the young ladies, who, besides noticing their own friends, a out such as they suppose to have been readingthe face as the index of thee in futile speculations of this sort, but fixes her whole attention on the figure of Mr Verdant Green