‘Oh! do,’ I said, ‘why not collect Buggisms.’
‘Why not, indeed,’ said Maisie, and thereafter a thoughtful silence ensued.
‘I think it’s about time we went back,’ I said, having occupied the interval in gazing at Maisie’s very shapely ankles; ‘I should like to stay here for ever, but—’
‘Of course you’re bound to say that,’ interrupted Maisie, as I began to rise ready to pole, ‘but the question is, do you really mean it?’
I was in the act of pushing off when a fearful shock sent me flying into Maisie’s lap, and her parasol into the water. Maisie was just preparing to utter her favourite ‘cuss-word,’ as she calls it, when a cheerful and inane voice from the offending boat remarked languidly, ‘Hullo! Maisie, what do you stick your old hearse in the light for?’
‘It’s not a hearse,’ retorted Maisie, angrily, ‘and Mr. Cochrane has been very kind and attentive to me.’
‘Oh! I’m sure of it,’ chuckled Blitherington, for it was he and Reggie in another punt, though neither of them seemed to be punting, and their boat was drifting broadside on down stream. ‘All the world,’ he continued, solemnly, ‘is attentive to its friends’ sisters and cousins.’
‘If we want to see the Eights we must move on,’ I interrupted hastily, as I saw Reggie beginning to give utterance to some home-truth, and Reggie’s home-truths are the most unpleasant that I know. Fortunately Blitherington assented, and so we all punted down to the barge together. The races were most exciting to all but Cecil’s, who rowed over hopelessly, being behind the bump of James’ and Llewellyn’s. It was decided not to watch the first division, as Blithers had arranged to drive a large party out in a coach to sup at Woodstock and return by moonlight.
The supper in The Lion was an enormous success, and it is not wonderful that on the return journey there was a great scramble for the inside of the coach, the four places being eventually secured by Freddy, Muriel, Reggie, and Sybil Accrington. As to what occurred I am unable to make any definite statement, though Reggie insists that Freddy kissed him by mistake in the dark, and this Freddy denies, like Peter, ‘with an oath’; however from the silence inside I gathered that they were all enjoying themselves. Outside Maisie and I, Blithers, Farmborough, the Pilot, Miss MacNeill and de Beresford sang comic songs with ever-increasing vigour, while the Bugg, who had come as general chaperon, rhapsodised into the unheeding ears of the Pilot, who had, as he afterwards admitted, fallen asleep through weariness.
The next day was devoted to an inspection of the various colleges, monuments, and points of interest, with tea afterwards in different rooms, ‘a regular field-day for the Bugg,’ as Freddy aptly remarked. On being questioned later as to what she had seen, she mixed up the Martyrs’ Memorial with St. Peter’s-in-the-East, and stated at dinner that she considered the Sheldonian ‘such an ornament to the Parks.’ In the evening Freddy and I conveyed the Famille Blitherington to the O.U.D.S. performance in Gloucester Gardens, in which Fatty sustained a prominent part very creditably, and Cobson did wonderful quick changes as ‘2nd Lord, serving man, knight, soldier, citizen, and apprentice.’ Blitherington afterwards remarked to him, ‘My dear old native, if you went on at the Pav. in town as Ratsini, the quick-change man, you’d make your fortune, and probably marry some light of the variety stage into the bargain. Try it!’