An amusing sequel occurred a few days later when my mother met Mrs.
Wellesley, who told her that, thanks to the cartoon, the Dean had at
last discarded the awful hat she had been vainly trying to get rid of
for a quarter of a century.
I had another early morning experience in pursuit of Dr. James Sewell
(Warden of New College, Oxford). I followed him into the college
chapel and sat near his stall, but I felt I had not sufficiently
impressed his features upon my memory to make a perfectly satisfactory
caricature, so I inquired into his customs in hope of finding him
again. I discovered that he also was in the habit of taking an early
morning walk, and at 8.30 the next day I awaited him at a suitable
distance from his door. After getting tired of waiting what seemed a
very long time, I knocked at his door and asked the servant if Dr.
Sewell was in.
"No," he replied; "the Doctor started a _long_ time ago, but he went
out by the other door this morning."
I felt rather sold, but determined to keep my vigil at an earlier hour
the next morning. Accordingly I watched again, and this time saw him
come out in all the glory of his beautiful white collar and cravat
(which had earned him the nickname of "The Shirt"), and a red
handkerchief, as usual, hanging from the pocket of his coat tail. I
"stalked" him discreetly, and with success. After a final glimpse of
him, walking down one of the paths of the gardens of Oxford, I hurried
home to make a note of my observations.
During my frequent visits there, I usually stayed at "The Mitre," for
I liked the old place. The staircase was crooked with age and the
bedroom floors extremely uneven. On the occasion of one of my sojourns
in that charming town, I recollected with considerable pleasure a
standing invitation from Sir John Stainer, who had invited me, in the
event of my coming to Oxford, to dine with him and taste some
exceptionally fine old port that had been bequeathed him. I dined with
Sir John and tasted the port, and enjoyed a very pleasant evening.
Returning to "The Mitre" I went into the coffee-room before retiring,
and as I was feeling very fit and in excellent spirits, I entered into
conversation with other occupants of the room, one of whom dared me to
place a very ripe cheese that was standing on the table in the crown
of somebody's silk hat. Being under the impression that it was the hat
of my quondam acquaintance, I promptly plunged the cheese into it.
After some joking repartee, I retired to bed but could not help
noticing how much more crooked the staircase seemed than usual and how
the ceiling appeared to be falling. In my bedroom the floor was like
the waves of the sea, and I experienced considerable difficulty in
reaching land, but after the utmost perseverance I arrived at the bed,
where, holding on to the post to ensure my safety, I fell into a
perfect sleep. Imagine my surprise when the next morning I found
myself lying on the floor fully dressed, with one arm firmly
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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