CAMBRIDGE PENSIONER 203 



Cambridge, and Avas about to commence his University 

 career as a pensioner of Christ's College. 



"AYell," I replied, " if I can be of any service to you 

 in making your stay agreeable, I hope that you will 

 command me." 



" I thought," he observed, " of doing myself the 

 pleasure of calling on you." 



" Do," I added, " as nothing will give me greater 

 pleasure than to hear of my Hampshire friends." 



After some few days occupied in settling himself down 

 quietly in his rooms, he came. In answer to my inquiries 

 respecting the part of the county of which he was a 

 native, he named the village near Rumsey where my fat 

 friend was so unceremoniously pitched into the purling 

 brook by my carelessness. I could not help smiling at 

 the remembrance of the wanton accident, and upon 

 further inquiry found that the ducking the publican had 

 received had not shortened his days, for he was still living. 

 He continued his visits, and being what is termed a 

 reading man, he conformed strictly to the discipline of 

 the University ; indeed was in great hopes, from having 

 been at the head of the school in Hampshire, that he 

 should be enabled to distinguish himself. 



At Christmas vacation he did not 2:0 doA\Ti ; but on the 

 day of that festivity he joined my family circle, which 

 had crot to be rather numerous. 



After the customary turkey and chine, he asked, 

 " Have you heard the subject for the Prize Poem ? " 

 addressing me. 



I said, " No. What is it ? " 



" The Conflagration of Rome by Nero." 



