246 WRITING AND CONSERVATISM 



book with a snap before the end, and sit ostentatiously- 

 down with an air of relief. He always said a loud 

 Amen at the ends of the prayers ; but when the Master 

 introduced a little prayer for the College, from the old 

 Compline Service, the Professor used to turn to the 

 pages of his Prayer-book, look round with dramatic 

 bewilderment, as though he thought the Chaplain was 

 delirious, and hold his lips ptiflSy sealed at the con- 

 clusion, for fear he should forget himself and add the 

 endorsement of an Amen to any petition of so singular 

 a character. 



On another occasion it was proposed that ladies 

 should be admitted, in restricted numbers, to the 

 chapel service. The discussion was amicable, and a 

 system was suggested. To my surprise, the Professor 

 took very little part, except to interject an occasional 

 growl ; but when the motion was put to the vote, the 

 old man grew suddenly white, and in a voice strangled 

 with passion made a most vindictive speech. He said 

 that he disapproved of all the alterations in the chapel 

 service ; that it was no longer the least pleasure for 

 him to attend. Everything done or suggested was 

 utterly out of keeping with the idea of a plain collegiate 

 service. He disliked it all from the bottom of his 

 heart ; and he wound up by saying that we might pass 

 what votes we liked, but that if one lady was admitted 

 to the chapel service he should never set foot in the 

 building again. 



An embarrassing scene occurred when one of the 

 Fellows asked leave that his daughter's marriage might 

 be celebrated in chapel. The Professor exploded in 

 wrath. He had never heard such a preposterous sug- 

 gestion. A College chapel was not intended for such 

 things as weddings; the young lady could have no 

 associations with the place ; he regarded it as a most 

 improper and entirely unaccountable proposal. On that 



