ope to add M. A. and M. S. S. which signifies honour
to you, as master of arts, and glory to your humble servant, Mark Supple
Scout--always put my own initials against the gentleman's names whom I
have attended, take notice." The singularity of the ancient's climax
amused me exceedingly--there was something truly original in the phrase:
the person and manners of the man were in perfect keeping. "You must
have seen great changes here, Mark," said I; "were you always of
Brazennose?" "I was born of Christ Church, sir, take notice, where my
father was college barber, and my mother a bed-maker; but the students
of that period insisted upon it that I was so like to a certain old big
wig, whose Christian name was Mark, that I most censoriously obtained
the appellation from at least a hundred godfathers, to the no small
annoyance of the dignitary, take notice. My first occupation, when a
child, was carrying billet doux from the students of Christ Church to
the tradesmen's daughters of Oxford, or the nuns of St. Clement's, where
a less important personage might have excited suspicion and lost his
situation. From a college Mercury, I became a college devil, and was
promoted to the chief situation in _glorio_,{1} alias _hell_, where I
continued for some time a shining character, and sharpened the edge of
many a cutting thing, take notice. Here, some wag having a design upon
my reputation, put a large piece of cobbler's wax into the dean's boots
one morning, which so irritated the _big wig_ that I was instantly
expelled college, discommoned, and blown up at point non plus, take
notice.

1 Glorio.--A place in Christ Church called the scout's
pantry, where the boots and shoes and knives are cleaned,
and a small quantity of Geneva, or Bill Holland's double, is
daily consumed during term time.

~149~~

Having saved a trifle, I now commenced stable-keeper, bought a few prime
hacks, and mounted some of the best tandem turn outs in Oxford, take
notice: but not having wherewithal to stand tick, and being much averse
to dunning, I was soon sold up, and got a birth in Brazennose as college
scout, where I have now been upwards of forty years, take notice. No
gentleman could ever say old Mark Supple deceived him. I have run many
risks for the gown; never cared for the town; always stuck up for
my college, and never telegraphed the big wigs in my life, take
notice."--"Is your name Blackmantle?" said a sharp-looking little