Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/267

Rh utterly confounds elderly females, who, having once got within the railings, can't get out again, and regard them much in the same way as they would look upon the maze at Hampton Court. In less than a minute, Percie was in a cab; and, in less than five (minutes, not cabs), was put down at the end of the lane at the back of St. Boniface, having, by this stratagem, fairly distanced the Old Boy.

Surely, the Fates had befriended him! for he gained his rooms as he had left them, unseen by other than friendly eyes; and was received by Mac with those grins and double-actioned wriggles by which a Skye terrier is accustomed to express his joy.

Old Boy was as good as his word, and at once made his way to his son's rooms. It was not the first time that he had visited them, so that he had not to inquire his road, but, with unfaltering memory and with unswerving steps, walked across the correct "quad.," laboured up the correct staircase, and paused to regain breath at the correct "oak," which was surmounted with the name of "." "Come in!" cried a faint voice, in reply to the tap at the door; and, saluted by the furious barking of" Mac," the Old Boy walked into the room, and immediately gave vent to exclamations of the greatest surprise at the very unexpected tableau vivant that met his gaze.