Part 29 (2/2)
”And now, what d'ye think of it, my beauty?” inquired Mr. Bouncer.
”It's something out of the common, ain't it?”
”It has a beautiful as.h.!.+” observed Mr. Smalls.
”And diffuses an aroma that makes me long to defy the trainer, and smoke one like it!” said Mr. Blades.
”So pray give me your reading - at least, your opinion, - on my Magnifico Pomposo!” asked Mr. Foote.
”Well,” answered Mr. Verdant Green, slowly - turning very pale as he spoke, - ”at first, I thought it was be-yew-tiful; but, altogether, I think-that-the Barbadoes tobacco-doesn't quite-agree with-my stom-” the speaker abruptly concluded by dropping the cigar, putting his handkerchief to his mouth, and rus.h.i.+ng into Mr. Bouncer's bed-room. The Magnifico Pomposo had been too much for him, and had produced sensations accurately interpreted by Mr. Bouncer, who forthwith represented in expressive pantomime, the actions of a distressed voyager, when he feebly murmurs ”Steward!”
[208 ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREEN]
To atone for the ”chaffing” which he had been the means of inflicting on his friend, the little gentleman, a few days afterwards, proposed to take our hero to the Chipping Norton Steeple-chase, - Mr. Smalls and Mr. Fosbrooke making up the quartet for a tandem. It was on their return from the races, that, after having stopped at ~The Bear~ at Woodstock, ”to wash out the horses' mouths,” and having done this so effectually that the horses had appeared to have no mouths left, and had refused to answer the reins, and had smashed the cart against <vg208.jpg> a house, which had seemed to have danced into the middle of the road for their diversion, - and, after having put back to ~The Bear~, and prevailed upon that animal to lend them a nondescript vehicle of the ”pre-adamite buggy” species, described by Sidney Smith, - that, much time having been consumed by the progress of this chapter of accidents, they did not reach Peyman's Gate until a late hour; and Mr. Verdant Green found that he was once more in difficulties. For they had no sooner got through the gate, than the wild octaves from Mr. Bouncer's post-horn were suddenly brought to a full stop, and Mr.
Fosbrooke, who was the ”waggoner,” was brought to Woh! and was compelled to pull up in obedience to the command of the proctor, who, as on a previous occasion, suddenly appeared from behind the toll-house, in company with his marshal and bull-dogs.
The Sentence p.r.o.nounced on our hero the next day, was, ”Sir! - You will translate all your lectures; have your name crossed on the b.u.t.tery and kitchen books; and be confined to chapel, hall, and college.”
This sentence was chiefly annoying, inasmuch as it somewhat interfered with the duties and pleasures attendant upon his
[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 209]
boating practice. For, wonderful to relate, Mr. Verdant Green had so much improved in the science, that he was now ”Number 3” of his college ”Torpid,” and was in hard training. The Torpid races commenced on March 10th, and were continued on the following days.
Our hero sent his father a copy of ~Tintinnabulum's Life~, which - after informing the Manor Green family that ”the boats took up positions in the following order: ”Brazenose, Exeter I, Wadham, Balliol, St. John's, Pembroke, University, Oriel, Brazenface, Christ Church I, Worcester, Jesus, Queen's, Christ Church 2, Exeter 2” - proceeded to enter into particulars of each day's sport, of which it is only necessary to record such as gave interest to our hero's family.
”First day. *** Brazenface refused to acknowledge the b.u.mp by Christ Church (I) before they came to the Cherwell. There is very little doubt but that they were b.u.mped at the Gut and the Willows. ***
”Second day. *** Brazenface rowed pluckily away from Worcester. ***
”Third day. *** A splendid race between Brazenface and Worcester; and, at the flag, the latter were within a foot; they did not, however, succeed in b.u.mping. The cheering from the Brazenface barge was vociferous. ***
”Fourth day. *** Worcester was more fortunate, and succeeded in making the b.u.mp at the Cherwell, in consequence of No. 3 of the Brazenface boat fainting from fatigue.”
Under ”No. 3” Mr. Verdant Green had drawn a pencil line, and had written ” V.G.” He shortly after related to his family the gloomy particulars of the b.u.mp, when he returned home for the Easter vacation.
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CHAPTER XI.
MR. VERDANT GREEN GETS THROUGH HIS SMALLS.
DESPITE the hindrance which the ~grande pa.s.sion~ is supposed to bring to the student, Charles Larkyns had made very good use of the opportunities afforded him by the leisure of his grace-term. Indeed, as he himself observed,
”Who hath not owned, with rapture-smitten frame, The power of ~grace~!”
And as he felt that the hours of his grace-term had not been wasted in idleness, but had been turned to profitable account, it is not at all unlikely that his pleasures of hope regarding his Degree-examination, and the position his name would occupy in the Cla.s.s-list, were of a roseate hue. He, therefore, when the Easter vacation had come to an end, returned to Oxford in
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