Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/139

Rh would place the organ of veneration, which is termed, by the unlearned and vulgar, "the bump of benevolence." If, therefore, the disciples of Gall were correct in their theories, it was indubitable that Dr. Dustacre was a kind and good man; but the peculiar form of his bald head made it resemble the polished egg of an ostrich, rather than the customary white billiard ball. Over his ears was a fringe of black hair; so that it was not until he took his hat from off his head that any portion of its baldness was disclosed to view; and, when he put on his hat again, it was as though he had covered the ostrich's egg with a chapeau for the performance of some trick of jugglery. A smaller fringe of black hair, in the shape of whiskers, was carried straight down his cheeks and continued under his chin, which retreated sharply from his mouth and nose. This was unusually prominent; and, in conjunction with the facial angle, greatly helped to give the peculiar raven-like aspect to his face. It might be said of Dr. Dustacre's nose and face, as Wordsworth wrote of Paulinus:—

His eyebrows were dark and shaggy: his eyes bright and piercing, even when seen through the gold-rimmed glasses that he wore; and his face was spectral and colourless. He was dressed in an entire suit of black; wore a starched white neckcloth, and carried an ebony cane that was tipped with gold.

Dr. Dustacre walked up to the Woodlands, past the tiny lodge, and through the little, well-timbered park;