"
"Then I'll get my lunch out of college," said Taffy, wondering who
Teddy Hall might be.
"I thank you, sir. I had, indeed, took the liberty of telling the
manciple that you was not a gentleman to give more trouble than you
could 'elp. Fried sole, pot of tea, toast, pot of blackberry jam,
commons of bread--" Mr. Blenkiron disappeared.
Taffy sprang out of bed and ran to the open window in the next room.
The gardens lay below him--smooth turf flanked with a border of gay
flowers, flanked on the other side with yews, and beyond the yews
with an avenue of limes, and beyond these with tall elms. A straight
gravelled walk divided the turf. At the end of it two yews of
magnificent spread guarded a great iron gate. Beyond these the
chimneys and battlements of Wadham College stood grey against the
pale eastern sky, and over them the larks were singing.
So this was Oxford; more beautiful than all his dreams! And since
his examination would not begin until to-morrow, he had a whole long
day to make acquaintance with her. Half a dozen times he, had to
interrupt his dressing to run and gaze out of the window, skipping
back when he heard Blenkiron's tread on the staircase. And at
breakfast again he must jump up and examine the door. Yes, there was
a second door outside--a heavy _oak_-just as his father had
described. What stories had he heard about these oaks! He was
handling this one almost idolatrously when Blenkiron appeared
suddenly at the head of the stairs.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173