The subsequent adventures of the party were too varied to be described
in full, with the exception of Fatty, whom we sent straight back to
the hotel in a hansom, and who was discovered by the charwoman at 6.30
asleep under the billiard table.
The party that breakfasted at the Great Trafalgar next morning about
lunch-time was reduced in number and unusually thoughtful; the latter,
partly because it is extremely difficult to raise money in London on
Sunday, and partly owing to the frequent lubrication on the previous
evening. Freddy had already left by the Holyhead express for Coffington
Castle, Co. Down. In the brief message left with the night porter for
Squiff, he explained that he had been to see the sunrise from Notting
Hill, and had only just had time to fetch his luggage. Von Graussman
and de Beresford, who had slept in an hotel in New Oxford Street, left
by the Pullman train at 11.0 for Brighton to recruit, as they said they
had both had too much pastry the night before. All traces had been
entirely lost of Blandford; it is only known that he arrived home three
days later with a broken bowler and a couple of ladies’ cloak-room
tickets, and went to bed for several days. The rest of us returned to
Oxford to pack and go through Vivas. I think I endorse the opinion of
Fatty, who afterwards remarked that ‘The wicked flourish like a green
bay tree, though they much prefer the dew of Glenlivet to that of
Hermon.’
VII.
HOW WE RAGGED THE SUBURBAN.
Owing to the awful scenes on the last night of the ‘Cannibal Girl,’
musical comedies had become exceedingly unpopular with the authorities,
and so we had to rely upon the Suburban for what Squiff calls ‘an
occasional divarsion.’
It all began with the Fresher’s lunch in Wykeham’s. The Fresher is
exceedingly fresh for, well, for a fresher, and his lunch, like the
Miller’s daughter, ‘was fresher still.’ The party was a genial one,
though, with the exception of Reggie and Accrington, most of the
sportsmen present were recruited from circles outside that of the
Elect. I regret to say that I arrived last of all, but then I generally
do. I don’t think any of the best people would know me now if I came in
first to a public function; they’d think it was my double.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account