Part 8 (2/2)

I must not repeat his lordshi+p's reply, or the continuation of the dialogue; it was too gross to be read or written I only intend the above as a short specimen of what lords' private tutors at universities so which their pupils sometimes acquire

While at supper, I was continually plied to drink; each pledging , as Hector had declared, to make e to incur their ridicule by refusing lass Besidehad increased, was good My constitution too was strong; for it had been confirmed by exercise and a cheerful mind, and never injured by excess For these reasons I stood their attacks far beyond their expectation, and ht advanced, and they grew riotous The lord and his tutor were for _sporting the door of a gluownsman who loves study Hector vociferously seconded the ly endeavoured to keep them quiet, first by persuasion, and, when that was ineffectual, by affir the students they proposed to attack _sported oak_: in plain English, barred up their doors Had they been without the walls of the college, there would have been a riot; but, having no other ventilator for their , and the jolly tutor proposed a rummer round--'D----n ht! But you are a famous deep one, d----n me!'

The rummers were seized, the wine poured out, and his lordshi+p began with--'D--mn--t----n to the flincher' Who should that be? I, the freshood fellowshi+p

This was the finishi+ng blow to three of us Hector fell on the floor; his lordshi+p sunk in his chair; and I, after a hurrah and a hiccup, began to _cast the cat_: an Oxford phrase for what usually happens to a o, and the fellow and the h left to helpI found ainst the fender, the pain of which awakenedreflections: The advice of a youth and the caution of a grave senior: Another rencontre_

Discoveringthe scene in which I had so lately been an actor, and feelingwith the debauch, looking round too and seeing myself in a rooer, and that the eyes of ers were upon me and my conduct, I found but little cause of satisfaction, either in myself, the acquaintance I had made, or the place to which I had come

The more I reflected the more was my mind disturbed I walked about the chamber unable to rid myself either of my sickly qualms, the feverish distemper of my blood, or the still more fevered distemperature of my mind It was a violent but I suspect it was a useful lesson After a while, cold water, washi+ng, cleaning, and shi+fting ht would be refreshi+ng; but, as I opened the door to descend the stairs, Turl was passing, and very kindly inquired after my health, said he was happy to see e Neglecting, or rather at that , Hector and his caution, I answered in the same tone and invited him into my room

Too uilty, or the painful feelings that were the result, I endeavoured by questions to gain the inforht best appease my roused curiosity

'I aive ulate my conduct? What I have hitherto seen has rather surprized and even disappointed in to doubt I shall not find What are the manners of the place?'--'Such as must be expected froht boys, and who do not kno to behave like men'--'But are there not people appointed to teach them?--'No'--'What is the office of the proctors, heads of houses, deans, and other superintendants, of whoulate the tufts of caps, the tying of bands, the stuff and tassels of which gowns are reen, and to take care that the gownsabbled over as fast as tongue can give them utterance, or lectures at which both reader and hearers fall asleep'

'What are the public rewards for proficiency in learning?'--'Few, or in reality none'--'Beside numerous offices, are not exhibitions, fellowshi+ps, professors' chairs, and presentations bestowed?'--'Yes, on those who have municipal or political influence; or who by servility and effrontery can court patronage'--'Surely you have soenius, who meet their due reward?'--'Few; very few, indeed Sloth, inanity, and bloated pride are here too often the characteristics of office Fastidiousness is virtue, and to keep the poor and unprotected in awe a duty The rich indeed are indulged in all the licentious liberties they can desire'--'Why do so et what is to be given away; others are sent by their parents, who iine the place to be the reverse of what it is; and a third set, intended for the church, are obliged to go to a university before they can be admitted into holy orders'--'That rule I have heard is not absolute'--'It is supposed here to be little less'--'Then you would not advise a young person to come to this city to complete his education?'--'If he possess extraordinary fortitude and virtue, yes: if not, I would have hies, to the former?'--'Leisure, books, and learned reatest, were it not publicly discountenanced by the arrogant distance which both the statutes of the university and the practice of the graduates and dignitaries prescribe In e: to ahow hateful it is, htiness, sloth, and sensuality, daily exhibited, if truly seen, cannot but excite contempt'--'You seem to have profited by the lesson'--'Oh! there is but little merit in my forbearance

I am poor, and have not the means I am a servitor and despised, or overlooked Those are er who have most money and most credit; I have neither' Charmed with his candour, our conversation continued: he directed e modes, and I sent to the Bursar, and prevailed on Turl to breakfast with me

I understood that he had obtained an exhibition, but that, having expressed his thoughts too freely on certain speculative points, he had incurred the disapprobation of his seniors, who considered it as exceedingly impertinent in any man to differ with them in opinion, and especially in such a youth

It was now tie randfather, and I had strong recoe: he therefore laid aside nity, and questioned me on various subjects He took but little notice of the reading and knowledge I was aave e and university discipline, necessary to be observed, which he very seriously adlect

I endeavoured to find what his opinion concerning Hector Mowbray was, and the lord to whom I had been introduced; but this he evaded, with a caution to e in any imprudent expence

I then mentioned the name of Turl, at which he seely sorry if Mr Turl were one ofman, and had dared not only to entertain but to make known some very heterodox opinions He had even proceeded so far as to declare himself an anti-trinitarian, and should therefore certainly never receive his countenance; neither he nor any of his connections If he escaped expulsion, he would assuredly never obtain his degrees' I was too orthodox ence, and felt a very severe pang that a young man, from whose conversation I had hoped so ht he would prove both an instructive and pleasant companion, but I now positively determined to shun his society Of this I inforhly applauded my resolution

I then proceeded to the ceree, and took the oaths: that is, I subscribed to the thirty-nine articles, took an oath of allegiance and supremacy, an oath to observe the statutes of the university, and another to obey every thing that was contained in a certain huge statute book of the college, brought out on this occasion, which I never saw either before or since To this hour, what its contents were is a thing to e, the very persons who oblige you to take these statute-book oaths publickly confess that to obey most of them is impossible They relate to obsolete custo Some for example swear to have e; and others, though ood estates, swear themselves not worth five pounds per annunorant, and the whole was hurried over so much in the way of form, and without inquiry of any kind, that it seeood manners to do what I was bidden

Warned by the inforusted by what I myself had seen and partaken of, I industriously for sometiaged in his own pursuits to molest , rallied me in his coarse way, asked if I had entered o with hidon The chaise would be ready in half an hour, and he would introduce uage equivocal and suspecting his intentions, I ventured to ask if she were a h and exclaimed (I shall omit his oaths) 'Modest! to be sure!

as modest as any of her sex' This did not satisfy h, but still swearing there was not ainclination to take exercise,and obstinacy of Hector at length prevailed, and I yielded I walked with him to the inn, the chaise was ready, and we stepped into it and galloped away

As ere driving on, the ientle Olivia rose to ht struck me, 'If it should be!

Why not? Who else could it be? Oh, it must! Yes, yes!' I was soon convinced it could be no other than Olivia! the dear the divine Olivia!

In less than forty don, and the postillion by Hector's direction drove us on the back of the town till we came to a neat newly painted house, at which he was ordered to stop My heart began to beat Hector jumped out and thundered at the door A feh the , and instantly drew it down again Alas! it was not Olivia

There was soain, and in a little while the door was opened

Hector entered swearing, hurried up stairs, badlady, _in a sky-blue riding-habit_, _with eay in her bosom, and a purple cestus round her waist--leaped into his arms_!--I stood in a trance! It was she herself! That sweet lovely creature, who had lost her purse, given a draft on her banker, and gone to relieve a poor sick relation at Cirencester! It was the true and identical Harriet Palared my tea, suffered me to sup in her co backward! The innocent soul, that had felt her delicacy so much disturbed by the horse-Godmother rudeness of the men-fellows!--'Bless me!' said I