Part 45 (2/2)

~Die 28 Mensis~ Maii ~Anni~ 185-

~Examinatus, prout Statuta requirunt, satisfecit n.o.bis Examinatoribus.~

{J. Smith. } Ita testamur {Gul. Brown. } Examinatores in {Jac. L. Jones. } Literis Humanio- {R. Robinson. } ribus

Owing to Mr. Verdant Green having entered upon residence at the time of his matriculation, he was obliged, for the present, to defer the putting on of his gown, and, consequently, of arriving at the ~full~ dignity of a Bachelor of Arts. Nevertheless, he had taken his Degree ~de facto~, if not ~de jure~; and he, therefore - for reasons which will appear - gave the usual Degree dinner, on the day of his taking his Testamur.

He also cleared his rooms, giving some of his things away, sending others to Richards's sale-rooms, and resigning his china and gla.s.s to the inexorable Mr. Robert Filcher, who would forthwith dispose of these gifts (much over their cost price) to the next Freshman who came under his care.

Moreover, as the adorning of College chimney-pieces with the photographic portraits of all the owner's College friends, had just then come into fas.h.i.+on, Mr. Verdant Green's beaming countenance and spectacles were daguerreotyped in every variety of Ethiopian distortion; and, being enclosed in miniature frames, were distributed as souvenirs among his admiring friends.

Then, Mr. Verdant Green went down to Warwicks.h.i.+re; and, within three months, travelled up to Northumberland on a special mission.

CHAPTER THE LAST.

MR. VERDANT GREEN IS MARRIED AND DONE FOR.

LASTHOPE'S ruined Church, since it had become a ruin - which was many a long year ago - had never held within its mouldering walls so numerous a congregation as was a.s.sembled therein on one particular September morning,

[310 ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREEN]

somewhere about the middle of the present century. It must be confessed that this unusual a.s.semblage had not been drawn together to see and hear the officiating Clergyman (who had never, at any time, been a special attraction), although that ecclesiastical Ruin was present, and looked almost picturesque in the unwonted glories of a clean surplice and white kid gloves. But, this decorative appearance of the Ruin, coupled with the fact that it was made on a week-day, was a sufficient proof that no ordinary circ.u.mstance had brought about this goodly a.s.semblage.

At length, after much expectant waiting, those on the outside of the Church discerned the figure of small Jock Muir mounted on his highly trained donkey, and galloping along at a tearing pace from the direction of Honeywood Hall. It soon became evident that he was the advance guard of two carriages that were being rapidly whirled along the rough road that led by the rocky banks of the Swirl. Before small Jock drew rein, he had struggled to relieve his own excitement, and that of the crowd, by pointing to the carriages and shouting, ”Yon's the greums, wi' the t'other priest!” the correctness of which a.s.sertion was speedily manifested by the arrival of the ”grooms” in question, who were none other than Mr. Verdant Green and Mr.

Frederick Delaval, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Larkyns (who was to ”a.s.sist” at the ceremony) and their ”best men,” who were Mr. Bouncer and a cousin of Frederick Delaval's. Which quintet of gentlemen at once went into the Church, and commenced a whispered conversation with the ecclesiastical Ruin. These circ.u.mstances, taken in conjunction with the gorgeous attire of the gentlemen, their white gloves, their waistcoats ”equal to any emergency” (as Mr. Bouncer had observed), and the bows of white satin ribbon that gave a festive appearance to themselves, their carriage-horses, and postilions - sufficiently proclaimed the fact that a wedding - and that, too, a double one - was at hand.

The a.s.sembled crowd had now sufficient to engage their attention, by the approach of a very special train of carriages, that was brought to a grand termination by two travelling-carriages, respectively drawn by four greys, which were decorated with flowers and white ribbons, and were bestridden by gay postilions in gold-ta.s.seled caps and scarlet jackets. No wonder that so unusual a procession should have attracted such an a.s.semblage; no wonder that Old Andrew Graham (who was there with his well-favoured daughters) should p.r.o.nounce it ”a brae sight for weak een.”

As the clatter of the carriages announced their near approach to Lasthope Church, Mr. Verdant Green - who had been in the highest state of excitement, and had distractedly occupied him-

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 311]

self in looking at his watch to see if it was twelve o'clock; in arranging his Oxford-blue tie; in futilely endeavouring to b.u.t.ton his gloves; in getting ready, for the fiftieth time, the gratuity that should make the Ruin's heart to leap for joy; in longing for brandy and water; and in attending to the highly-out-of-place advice of Mr.

Bouncer, relative to the sustaining of his ”p.e.c.k.e.r” - Mr. Verdant Green was thereupon seized with the fearful apprehension that he had lost the ring; and, after an agonizing and trembling search in all his pockets, was only relieved by finding it in his glove (where he had put it for safety) just as the double bridal procession entered the church.

Of the proceedings of the next hour or two, Mr. Verdant Green never had a clear perception. He had a dreamy idea of seeing a bevy of ladies and gentlemen pouring into the church, in a mingled stream of bright-coloured silks and satins, and dark-coloured broadcloths, and lace, and ribbons, and mantles, and opera cloaks, and bouquets; and, that this bright stream, followed by a rush of dark shepherd's-plaid waves, surged up the aisle, and, dividing confusedly, shot out from their centre a blue coat and bra.s.s b.u.t.tons (in which, by the way, was Mr. Honeywood), on the arms of which were hanging two white-robed figures, partially shrouded with Honiton-lace veils, and crowned with orange blossoms.

Mr. Verdant Green has a dim remembrance of the party being marshalled to their places by a confused clerk, who a.s.signed the wrong brides to the wrong bridegrooms, and appeared excessively anxious that his mistake should not be corrected. Mr. Verdant Green also had an idea that he himself was in that state of mind in which he would pa.s.sively have allowed himself to be united to Miss Kitty Honeywood, or to Miss Let.i.tia Jane Morkin (who was one of Miss Patty's bridesmaids), or to Mrs. Hannah More, or to the Hottentot Venus, or to any one in the female shape who might have thought proper to take his bride's place.

Mr. Verdant Green also had a general recollection of making responses, and feeling much as he did when in for his ~viva voce~ examination at college; and of experiencing a difficulty when called upon to place the ring on one of the fingers of the white hand held forth to him, and of his probable selection of the thumb for the ring's resting place, had not the bride considerately poked out the proper finger, and a.s.sisted him to place the golden circlet in its a.s.signed position. Mr. Verdant Green had also a misty idea that the service terminated with kisses, tears, and congratulations; and, that there was a great deal of writing and signing of names in two doc.u.mentary-looking books; and that he had mingled feelings that it was all over, that he was made very happy, and that he wished he could forthwith project himself into the middle of the next week.

[312 ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREEN]

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