“A trusty servant’s portrait would you see, This figure well survey, whoe’er you be; The porker’s snout not nice in diet shows; The padlock shut, no secret he’ll disclose. Patient, to angry lords the ass gives ear; Swiftness on errand the stag’s feet declare; Laden his left hand, apt to labour saith; The coat, his neatness; the open hand, his faith: Girt with his sword, his shield upon his arm, Himself and master he’ll protect from harm.”] Here may generally be seen a row of huge leather jugs about two feet high, (“Jacks,”) made of hippopotamus hide, and peculiar to Winchester, I believe; at any rate, a relative of mine who lived in one of the midland counties purchased a pair here every year, and he used to give me the commission, which I had the greatest pleasure in executing, as he always sent me a five-pound note to pay for them with, and could never be induced to take any change. The Kitchen is a spacious apartment with a vaulted roof, occupying the entire height of the building on the west side of the quadrangle, and at least half its length; here we might see a few Fags endeavouring to coax Jem Sims, John Coward, Bill Bright, or mother Mariner, (the cooks,) for an extra supply of mashed potatoes, till Kitchen is cleared by the exasperated Manciple, who has just detected a delinquent in the act of secreting under his gown an armful of the small faggots used for lighting the kitchen fires, (called “Bill Brighters,”) an opportunity for purloining which was never allowed to slip by a Junior of a properly regulated mind. It may be asked how the Fags managed to dine at all, and it would be difficult to answer; but somehow or other we did manage to eat at odd times, and plenty too, I suppose; at any rate we were always in excellent condition; there was ample food supplied by College, the opportunity of eating it only failed. The entire system is now completely changed; the boys dine at one o’clock, their dinner is as plentiful as ever, and properly served, with good cookery, plates, and knives and forks, and no Fagging whatever is allowed, the Choristers waiting, and a Master being present. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VII. THE JUNIOR IN CHAPEL. The Late Warden—The Antechapel—The Crimean Memorial—The New Tower—Hours of Service—The Oath—Cloisters.