Then came the lazy unwashed _scout_, crawling along the
quadrangle, rubbing his heavy eyes, and cursing his hard fate to be thus
compelled to give early notice to some slumbering student of the hour of
seven, waking him from dreams of bliss, by thundering at his _oak_ the
summons to _black matins_. Now crept the youthful band along the
avenue, and one by one the drowsy congregation stole through the Gothic
ante-chamber that leads to Christ Church chapel, like unwilling victims
to some pious sacrifice. Here a lengthened yawn proclaimed the want of
rest, and near a tremulous step and heavy half-closed eye was observed,
pacing across the marble floor, with hand pressed to his _os frontis_,
as if a thousand odd and sickly fantasies inhabited that chamber of the
muses. Now two friends might be seen, supporting a third, whose ghastly
aspect bespoke him fresh in the sacred mysteries of college parties and
of Bacchus; but who had, nevertheless, undergone a tolerable seasoning
on the previous night. There a jolly Nimrod, who had just cleared the
college walls, and reached his rooms time enough to cover his hunting
frock and boots with his academicals, was seen racing along, to 'scape
the _prick bill's_ report, with his round hunting cap in his hand, in
lieu of the square tufted trencher of the schools.
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