Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/82

62 "I believe you, my bo-oy," responded Mr. Bouncer, after the manner of Mr. Paul Bedford. "And, by the way, your friend The Knight has claimed maiden allowance, and is going to run The Great Mogul for a monkey."

"Oh, indeed!" said Verdant; which was a tolerably safe exclamation, as he had not the slightest idea what Mr. Bouncer meant; and the phrases "maiden allowance" and "running for a monkey" were quite as dark to him as was the horse in connection with which they were used.

Little Mr. Bouncer guessed as much, and said, "Videsne puer? d' ye twig, young un? Perhaps you 'd like to put a pot of money on him, eh?" But this was said sotto voce, and was not heard by the rest of the party; and, in the same tone, Verdant replied, "No, indeed; I've done with horse-racing. Many thanks to you for having taught me a good lesson."

"I say, you fellows," burst in Mr. Four-in-hand Fosbrooke, who was looking forward to the morrow, when he would be seated on the box of the Oxford and Birmingham coach, and would be permitted by the coachman to handle the ribbons, and temporarily to take the reins of government; "oh, I say, you fellows! have you heard a good thing that Hargrave, of Wadham, has done?"

"Paid his ticks?" suggested Mr. Flexible Shanks. "No; I am afraid that that is not his particular form of good thing, and that his duns will still have to wait for the settlement of their little bills," replied Mr. Fosbrooke. "And it is odd how many of these little bills turn up just at the very end of Term; in order, I suppose, to prepare one's mind all the more to enjoy the pleasures of the Long Vacation."