he
latter but seldom attend. The last who attended was the late
Duke of Dorset. All common rooms are regularly furnished
with newspapers and magazines.

_Curator of the common rooms_.-A senior master of arts, who
buys the wine and inspects the accounts.

~137~~ In the centre of the opposite side hung the portrait of an old
_scout_, formerly of Brazennose, whose head now forms the admission
ticket to the college club. Right and left were disposed the plaster
busts of Aristotle and Cicero; the former noseless, and the latter with
his eyes painted black, and a huge pair of mustachios annexed. A few
volumes of the Latin and Greek classics were thrown into a heap in one
corner of the room, while numerous modern sporting publications usurped
their places on the book shelves, richly gilt and bound in calf, but not
lettered. The hunting cap, whip, and red coat were hung up like a trophy
between two foxes' tails, which served the purpose of bell pulls. At
this moment, my topographical observations were disturbed by the arrival
of the scout with candles, and two strange-looking fellows in smock
frocks, bringing in, as I supposed, a piano forte, but which, upon being
placed on the table, proved to be a mere case: the top being taken off,
the sides and ends let down in opposite directions, and the cloth pulled
out straight, displayed an elegant dinner, smoking hot, and arranged
in as much form as if the college butler had superintended the feast.
"Come, old fellow," said Tom, "turn to--no ceremony. I hope,
Jem," addressing his scout, "you took care that no ~138~~ college
telegraph{27} was at work while you were smuggling the dinner in."
"I made certain sure of that, sir," said Jem; "for I placed Captain
Cook{28} sentinel at one corner of the quadrangle, and old Brady at the
other, with directions to whistle, as a signal, if they saw any of the
_dons_ upon the look out."

Finding we were not likely to be interrupted by the _domine_, Tom took
the chair. The fellows in the smock frocks threw off their disguises,
and proved to be two genteelly dressed waiters from one of the inns.
"Close the oak, Jem," said Horace Eglantine, "and take care no one
knocks in{29} before we have knocked down the contents of your master's
musical melange." "_Punning_ as usual, Eglantine," said the Honourable
Mr. Sparkle, a gentleman commoner. "Yes; and _pun_-ishing too, old
fellow!" said Horace. "Where's the _cold tankard_,{30} E