( 634 ) 

 THE LITTLE GO ; 



AN OXFORD STORY, FOUNDED ON FACTS. 



" Miser ! O miser ! aiutit, ornnia ademit 

 Una dies infesta tibi tot prasmia vitae." 



Luc RET. 



" YOUR name stands first on to-morrow's list," said D'Aubeny, as 

 with one application of his foot he burst wide open the ill-sported 

 oak of the rooms No. 5, second pair, right-hand, inner quadrangle, 

 of college. 



Silently and alone, with not a book, though many were on the ta- 

 ble before him, on the leaves of which the dust of not a few days had 

 settled, nor, seemingly, one single object wherewith a solitary could 

 occupy his thoughts, but abstractedly, and in " himself involved," sat 

 he to whom the salutation was addressed. 



" Why, Ned ! What the devil ails you ?" rattled .out the light- 

 hearted intruder, as his eye now settled down on the surface of the 

 one-tapered table now wandered over the countenance of his mo- 

 tionless friend. 



" Alone in your rooms on the eve of a pluck ! Not reading a line, 

 and your oak sported against all comers, friends and foes, who may 

 kick their toes flat on the relentless panels for aught of commisera- 

 tion to be found in your unsympathizing soul your candle cauter- 

 ised down to the very rim ; the wick pendent as the plume on 



* Perseus's helmet/ as our worthy Bursar would have it ; the tallow 

 trailing into as many streams as the Nile has mouths ; and thyself, 



* horribile vultus aspectu,' staring thine eyes from their sockets to 

 count the banners of soot as they wave from the chill bars of thy 

 comfortless grate " 



" I do not know what right you have to interrupt a man in spite of 

 his precaution." 



" Precaution !" grinned D'Aubeny. 



" Yes. You broke through my oak which my scout had sported 

 a t my most particular desire. The laws of necessity, Sir, require that 

 our hours for study be not open to the intrusion of every numskull ; 

 an d the rules of courtesy demand that they be complied with." 



* Humbug !'' retorted D'Aubeny, good-humouredly, " Mere 



farce !" 



Y ou are fresh, D'Aubeny,'' replied M , suppressing the ris- 

 ing bil e 5 " a d we have been long taught to look upon freshmen as 

 monkeys that make themselves license to play tricks." 



" Jaw as vou will," muttered D , as he flung himself sans ce- 



remonie i nto the easy reading-chair, at the same time drawing it 

 close up to the fire-place, " I know you of old ; you are in one of 

 your moods again. But, come. Where's your kettle ? On with 

 her. Reach me the bellows, and now for some coffee you grind 

 whilst I blow 'semper ardente camino,' as we had it at Juvenal this 



