Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/125



ITTLE Mr. Bouncer and Mr. Smalls, having no very tedious railway journey before them, did not leave Oxford until the afternoon of the day on which Verdant Green and Mr. Four-in-hand Fosbrooke had quitted the City of Colleges on the top of the Warwickshire coach. By luncheon time, the University had lost the larger portion of its and Oxford tradesmen members would be compelled to wait three months for the return of their best customers. This is a serious item in connection with the much-abused credit system, that must be considered whenever any so-called overcharges of Oxford tradesmen are questioned by a Paterfamilias. People must needs make hay while the sun shines; and if the sun is under a cloud for a quarter of the year, it is clear that no hay can be made during