the book of snobs-第15章
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Comedy; with no less than twenty emendations upon the
German text of Schnupfenius and Schnapsius。 These
Services to religion instantly pointed him out for
advancement in the Church; and he is now President of
Saint Boniface; and very narrowly escaped the bench。
Crump thinks Saint Boniface the centre of the world; and
his position as President the highest in England。 He
expects the fellows and tutors to pay him the same sort
of service that Cardinals pay to the Pope。 I am sure
Crawler would have no objection to carry his trencher; or
Page to hold up the skirts of his gown as he stalks into
chapel。 He roars out the responses there as if it were
an honour to heaven that the President of Saint Boniface
should take a part in the service; and in his own lodge
and college acknowledges the Sovereign only as his
superior。
When the allied monarchs came down; and were made Doctors
of the University; a breakfast was given at Saint
Boniface; on which occasion Crump allowed the Emperor
Alexander to walk before him; but took the PAS himself of
the King of Prussia and Prince Blucher。 He was going to
put the Hetman Platoff to breakfast at a side…table with
the under college tutors; but he was induced to relent;
and merely entertained that distinguished Cossack with a
discourse on his own language; in which he showed that
the Hetman knew nothing about it。
As for us undergraduates; we scarcely knew more about
Crump than about the Grand Llama。 A few favoured youths
are asked occasionally to tea at the lodge; but they do
not speak unless first addressed by the Doctor; and if
they venture to sit down; Crump's follower; Mr。 Toady;
whispers; 'Gentlemen; will you have the kindness to get
up?The President is passing;' or 'Gentlemen; the
President prefers that undergraduates should not sit
down;' or words to a similar effect。
To do Crump justice; he does not cringe now to great
people。 He rather patronizes them than otherwise; and;
in London; speaks quite affably to a Duke who has been
brought up at his college; or holds out a finger to a
Marquis。 He does not disguise his own origin; but brags
of it with considerable self…gratulation:'I was a
Charity…boy;' says he; 'see what I am now; the greatest
Greek scholar of the greatest College of the greatest
University of the greatest Empire in the world。' The
argument being; that this is a capital world; for
beggars; because he; being a beggar; has managed to get
on horseback。
Hugby owes his eminence to patient merit and agreeable
perseverance。 He is a meek; mild; inoffensive creature;
with just enough of scholarship to fit him to hold a
lecture; or set an examination paper。 He rose by
kindness to the aristocracy。 It was wonderful to see the
way in which that poor creature grovelled before a
nobleman or a lord's nephew; or even some noisy and
disreputable commoner; the friend of a lord。 He used to
give the young noblemen the most painful and elaborate
breakfasts; and adopt a jaunty genteel air; and talk with
them (although he was decidedly serious) about the opera;
or the last run with the hounds。 It was good to watch
him in the midst of a circle of young tufts; with his
mean; smiling; eager; uneasy familiarity。 He used to
write home confidential letters to their parents; and
made it his duty to call upon them when in town; to
condole or rejoice with them when a death; birth; or
marriage took place in their family; and to feast them
whenever they came to the University。 I recollect a
letter lying on a desk in his lecture…room for a whole
term; beginning; 'My Lord Duke。' It was to show us that
he corresponded with such dignities。
When the late lamented Lord Glenlivat; who broke his neck
at a hurdle…race; at the premature age of twenty…four;
was at the University; the amiable young fellow; passing
to his rooms in the early morning; and seeing Hugby's
boots at his door; on the same staircase; playfully
wadded the insides of the boots with cobbler's wax; which
caused excruciating pains to the Rev。 Mr。 Hugby; when he
came to take them off the same evening; before dining
with the Master of St。 Crispin's。
Everybody gave the credit of this admirable piece of fun
to Lord Glenlivat's friend; Bob Tizzy; who was famous for
such feats; and who had already made away with the
college pump…handle; filed St。 Boniface's nose smooth
with his face; carried off four images of nigger…boys
from the tobacconists; painted the senior proctor's horse
pea…green; &c。 &c。; and Bob (who was of the party
certainly; and would not peach;) was just on the point of
incurring expulsion; and so losing the family living
which was in store for him; when Glenlivat nobly stepped
forward; owned himself to be the author of the delightful
JEU…D'ESPRIT; apologized to the tutor; and accepted the
rustication。
Hugby cried when Glenlivat apologized; if the young
nobleman had kicked him round the court; I believe the
tutor would have been happy; so that an apology and a
reconciliation might subsequently ensue。 'My lord;' said
he; 'in your conduct on this and all other occasions; you
have acted as becomes a gentleman; you have been an
honour to the University; as you will be to the peerage;
I am sure; when the amiable vivacity of youth is calmed
down; and you are called upon to take your proper share
in the government of the nation。' And when his lordship
took leave of the University; Hugby presented him with a
copy of his 'Sermons to a Nobleman's Family' (Hugby was
once private tutor to the Sons of the Earl of
Muffborough); which Glenlivat presented in return to Mr。
William Ramm; known to the fancy as the Tutbury Pet; and
the sermons now figure on the boudoir…table of Mrs。 Ramm;
behind the bar of her house of entertainment; 'The Game
Cock and Spurs;' near Woodstock; Oxon。
At the beginning of the long vacation; Hugby comes to
town; and puts up in handsome lodgings near St。 James's
Square; rides in the Park in the afternoon; and is
delighted to read his name in the morning papers among
the list of persons present at Muffborough House; and the
Marquis of Farintosh's evening…parties。 He is a member
of Sydney Scraper's Club; where; however; he drinks his
pint of claret。
Sometimes you may see him on Sundays; at the hour when
tavern doors open; whence issue little girls with great
jugs of porter; when charity…boys walk the streets;
bearing brown dishes of smoking shoulders of mutton and
baked 'taturs; when Sheeny and Moses are seen smoking
their pipes before their lazy shutters in Seven Dials;
when a crowd of smiling persons in clean outlandish
dresses; in monstrous bonnets and flaring printed gowns;
or in crumpled glossy coats and silks that bear the
creases of the drawers where they have lain all the week;
file down High Street;sometimes; I say; you may see
Hugby coming out of the Church of St。 Giles…in…the…
Fields; with a stout gentlewoman leaning on his arm;
whose old face bears an expression of supreme pride and
happiness as she glances round at all the neighbours; and
who faces the curate himself and marches into Holborn;
where she pulls the bell of a house over which is
inscribed; 'Hugby; Haberdasher。' It is the mother of the
Rev。 F。 Hugby; as proud of her son in his white choker as
Cornelia of her jewels at Rome。 That is old Hugby
bringing up the rear with the Prayer…books; and Betsy
Hugby the old maid; his daughter;old Hugby; Haberdasher
and Church…warden。
In the front room upstairs; where the dinner is laid out;
there is a picture of Muffborough Castle; of the Earl of
Muffborough; K。X。; Lord…Lieutenant for Diddlesex; an
engraving; from an almanac; of Saint Boniface College;
Oxon; and a sticking…plaster portrait of Hugby when
young; in a cap and gown。 A copy of his 'Sermons to a
Nobleman's Family' is on the bookshelf; by the 'Whole
Duty of Man;' the Reports of the M