Part 2 (2/2)

[24 ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREEN]

he would altogether fail in obtaining places; so a letter had been dispatched to ”the Swan” coach-office at Birmingham, from which place the coach started, and two outside seats had been put at Mr. Green's disposal.

The day at length arrived, when Mr. Verdant Green for the first time in his life (on any important occasion) was to leave the paternal roof; and it must be confessed that it was a proceeding which caused him some anxiety, and that he was not <vg024.jpg> sorry when the carriage was at the door to bear him away, before (shall it be confessed?) his tears had got the mastery over him. As it was, by the judicious help of his sisters, he pa.s.sed the Rubicon in courageous style, and went through the form of breakfast with the greatest hilarity, although with several narrow escapes of suffocation from choking. The thought that he was going to be an Oxford MAN fortunately a.s.sisted him in the preservation of that tranquil dignity and careless ease which he considered to be the necessary adjuncts of the manly character, more especially as developed in that peculiar biped he was about to be transformed into; and Mr. Verdant Green was enabled to say ”Good-by” with a firm voice and undimmed spectacles.

All crowded to the door to have a last shake of the hand;

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 25]

the maid-servants peeped from the upper windows; and Miss Virginia sobbed out a blessing, which was rendered of a striking and original character by being mixed up with instructions never to forget what she had taught him in his Latin grammar, and always to be careful to guard against the toothache. And amid the good-byes and write-oftens that usually accompany a departure, the carriage rolled down the avenue to the lodge, where was Mr. Mole the gardener, and also Mrs.

Mole, and, moreover, the Mole olive-branches, all gathered at the open gate to say farewell to the young master. And just as they were about to mount the hill leading out of the village, who should be there but the rector lying in wait for them and ready to walk up the hill by their side, and say a few kindly words at parting. Well might Mr. Verdant Green begin to regard himself as the topic of the village, and think that going to Oxford was really an affair of some importance.

They were in good time for the coach; and the ringing notes of the guard's bugle made them aware of its approach some time before they saw it rattling merrily along in its cloud of dust. What a sight it was when it did come near! The cloud that had enveloped it was discovered to be not dust only, but smoke from the cigars, meerschaums, and short clay pipes of a full complement of gentlemen pa.s.sengers, scarcely one of whom seemed to have pa.s.sed his twentieth year. No bonnet betokening a female traveller could be seen either inside or out; and that lady was indeed lucky who escaped being an inside pa.s.senger on the following day. Nothing but a lapse of time, or the complete re-lining of the coach, could purify it from the attacks of the four gentlemen who were now doing their best to convert it into a divan; and the consumption of tobacco on that day between Birmingham and Oxford must have materially benefited the revenue. The pa.s.sengers were not limited to the two-legged ones, there were four-footed ones also. Sporting dogs, fancy dogs, ugly dogs, rat-killing dogs, short-haired dogs, long-haired dogs, dogs like m.u.f.fs, dogs like mops, dogs of all colours and of all breeds and sizes, appeared thrusting out their black noses from all parts of the coach. Portmanteaus were piled upon the roof; gun-boxes peeped out suspiciously here and there; bundles of sticks, canes, foils, fis.h.i.+ng-rods, and whips, appeared strapped together in every direction; while all round about the coach,

”Like a swarth Indian with his belt of beads,”

hat-boxes dangled in leathery profusion. The Oxford coach on an occasion like this was a sight to be remembered.

A ”Wo-ho-ho, my beauties!” brought the smoking wheelers upon their haunches; and Jehu, saluting with his elbow and

[26 ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREEN]

whip finger, called out in the husky voice peculiar to a dram-drinker, ”Are you the two houtside gents for Hoxfut?” To which Mr. Green replied in the affirmative; and while the luggage (the canvas-covered, ladylike look of which was such a contrast to that of the other pa.s.sengers) was being quickly transferred to the coach-top, he and Verdant ascended to the places reserved for them behind the coachman. Mr. Green saw at a glance that all the pa.s.sengers were Oxford men, dressed in every variety of Oxford fas.h.i.+on, and exhibiting a pleasing diversity of Oxford manners. Their private remarks on the two new-comers were, like stage ”asides,” perfectly audible.

”Decided case of governor!” said one.

”Undoubted ditto of freshman!” observed another.

”Looks ferociously mild in his gig-lamps!” remarked a third, alluding to Mr. Verdant Green's spectacles.

”And jolly green all over!” wound up a fourth.

Mr. Green, hearing his name (as he thought) mentioned, turned to the small young gentleman who had spoken, and politely said, ”Yes, my name is Green; but you have the advantage of me, sir.”

”Oh! have I?” replied the young gentleman in the most affable manner, and not in the least disconcerted; ”my name's Bouncer: I remember seeing you when I was a babby. How's the old woman?” And without waiting to hear Mr. Green loftily reply, ”Mrs. Green - my WIFE, sir - is quite well - and I do NOT remember to have seen you, or ever heard your name, sir!” - little Mr. Bouncer made some most unearthly noises on a post-horn as tall as himself, which he had brought for the delectation of himself and his friends, and the alarm of every village they pa.s.sed through.

”Never mind the dog, sir,” said the gentleman who sat between Mr.

Bouncer and Mr. Green; ”he won't hurt you. It's only his play; he always takes notice of strangers.”

”But he is tearing my trousers,” expostulated Mr. Green, who was by no means partial to the ”play” of a thoroughbred terrier.

”Ah! he's an uncommon sensible dog,” observed his master; ”he's always on the look-out for rats everywhere. It's the Wellington boots that does it; he's accustomed to have a rat put into a boot, and he worries it out how he can. I daresay he thinks you've got one in yours.”

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