paint it over--looks quite natural, don't
it?--defy the big wigs to find it out--and if I can but make all right
by a sop to the old Cerberus at the gate, and _queer_ the _prick bills_
at chapel prayers, I hope to escape the _quick-sands of rustication_,
and pass safely through the _creek of proctorial jeopardy_. If you're
fond of fun, old fellow, jump up and view the Christ Church men
proceeding to _black matins_ this morning. After the Roysten hunt
yesterday--the dinner at the Black Bear at Woodstock--and the _Town and
Gown row_ of last night, there will be a motley procession this morning,
I'll bet a hundred." The opportunity was a rare one to view the
effect of late drinking upon early risers (see Plate); slipping on
my academicals, therefore, I accompanied my friend Tom to morning
prayers,--a circumstance, as I have since been informed, which would
have involved me in very serious disgrace, had the appearance of an _ex
college_ man at vespers attracted the notice of any of the big wigs.
Fortunately, however, I escaped the prying eyes of authority, which,
on these occasions, are sometimes as much under the dominion of
Morpheus--and literally walk in their sleep from custom--as the young
and inexperienced betray the influence of some more seductive charm. The
very bell that called the drowsy student from his bed seemed to rise
and fall in accordant sympathy with the lethargic humour that prevailed,
tolling in slow and half-sounding notes scarcely audible beyond the
college gates. The broken light, that shed its misty hue through
the monastic aisle of painted windows and clustered columns, gave an
increased appearance of drowsiness to the scene; while the chilling air
of the ~270~~morning nipped the young and dissolute, as it fell in hazy
dews upon the bare-headed sons of _alma mater_, within many of whose
bosoms the fires of the previous night's debauch were but scarce
extinguished. Then came the lazy unwashed _scout_, crawling along the
quadrangle, rubbing his heavy eyes, and cursing his hard fate to be thus
compelled to give early notice to some slumbering student of the hour of
seven, waking him from dreams of bliss, by thundering at his _oak_ the
summons to _black matins_. Now crept the youthful band along the
avenue, and one by one the drowsy congregation stole through the Gothic
ante-chamber that leads to Christ Church chapel, like unwilling victims
to some pious sacrifice. Here a lengthened yawn proclaimed the w