"I shall make
a party on purpose to introduce you, old chap," said Tom, "that is,
~121~~ as soon as you have made your bow to the _big wig_:{7} but I say,
old fellow, where are you entered 1 we are most of us overflowingly full
here." I quickly satisfied his curiosity upon that point, by informing
him I had been for some time enrolled upon the list of the foundation
of Brazennose, and had received orders to come up and enter myself. Our
conversation now turned upon the necessary ceremonies of matriculation.
Tom's face was enlivened to a degree when I showed him my letter of
introduction to Dr. Dingyman, of L-n college. "What, the opposition
member, the Oxford Palladio? Why, you might just as well expect to move
the Temple of the Winds from Athens to Oxford, without displacing
a fragment, as to hope the doctor will present you to the
vice-chancellor.--It won't do. We must find you some more tractable
personage; some good-humoured nob that stands well with the principals,
tells funny stories to their ladies, and drinks his three bottles like
a true son of orthodoxy." "For Heaven's sake! my dear fellow, if you
do not wish to be pointed at, booked for an eccentric, or suspected of
being profound, abandon all intention of being introduced through
that medium. A first interview with that singular man will produce an
examination that would far exceed the perils of the _great go_{8}-he
will try your proficiency by the chart and scale of truth.
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