but then I can always raise a
per-pendic-dic-u-u-lar, you see--always good at mathemat-tics. D--n
Aristotle, and the rest of the saints! say I: you see what comes of
being logical." All of which exultation over poor Eglantine's disaster,
Echo had the caution to make while steadying himself by keeping fast
hold of one of the balustrades on the landing; which that arch wag
Transit perceiving, managed to cut nearly through with a knife, and then
putting his foot against it sent Tom suddenly oft in a flying leap after
his companion, to the uproarious mirth of the whole party. By the time
our two friends had recovered their legs, we were all in marching order
for the Mitre; working in sinuosities along, for not one of the party
could have moved at right angles to any given point, or have counted six
street lamps without at least multiplying them to a dozen. In a word,
they were ripe for any spree, full of frolic, and bent on mischief;
witness the piling a huge load of coals ~248~~against one man's door,
screwing up the oak of another, and _milling the glaze_ of a third,
before we quitted the precincts of Brazen-nose, which we did separately,
to escape observation from the Cerberus who guarded the portal.

It is in a college wine-party that the true character of your early
associates are easily discoverable: out of the excesses of the table
very often spring the truest impressions, the first, but indelible
affection which links kindred spirits together in after-time, and
cements with increasing years into the most inviolable friendship. Here
the sallies of youth, unchecked by care, or fettered by restraint,
give loose to mirth and revelry; and the brilliancy of genius and the
warm-hearted gaiety of pure delight are found in the highest perfection.

The blue light of heaven illumined the magnificent square of Radcliffe,
when we passed from beneath the porch of Brazen-nose, and tipping with
her silvery light the surrounding architecture, lent additional beauty
to the solemn splendour of the scene. Sophisticated as my faculties
certainly were by the copious libations and occurrences of the day, I
could yet admire with reverential awe the imposing grandeur by which I
was surrounded.

A wayward being from my infancy, not the least mark of my eccentricity
is the peculiar humour in which I find myself when I have sacrificed
too freely to the jolly god: unlike the major part of mankind, my
temperament, instead of being invigorated