At a quarter before nine the door of Seventh chamber passage was opened, and the boys, eager for breakfast, tumultuously rushed out from school-court; stopping at the bottom of Hall stairs for a moment, to see if Poole, the porter, had letters, or, what was even more delightful, a “Cargo,” (a hamper of game or eatables from home,) for them, and then darted up the steps.
Before entering, I must give the reader an idea of the internal arrangement of the noble old Hall, which in beauty and size excels most of the college halls in Oxford or Cambridge. At the east end is a raised dais, on which is the “High table,” where the Dons dine in Election week. Along each side are rows of tables. Those on the north side, allotted to the Præfects, were called, “Tub, Middle, and Junior Mess,” respectively. The others, when occupied, being each presided over by a Candlekeeper, were called respectively senior, second, and so on to junior “End.” The fireplace is in the centre of the Hall, with two grates looking in opposite directions, the smoke being conducted away by a chimney underneath the floor; the whole apparatus, however, is cleared away in summer time. A screen at the lower end forms a passage, into which opened “Whiteman’s Hatch,” where “Trenchers,” knives and forks; “Dear’s,” where bread and cheese; and “Colson’s,” where beer, butter, and salt were dispensed. The trenchers were about a foot square, and did duty as plates at all meals; they were admirably adapted for bread and butter, but were not particularly convenient for those who were partial to hot meat and gravy. In front of the screen stood “Tub,” from which the Præfect of that Ilk took his title; it was a strong painted oak chest, with a lid, about two feet high; its use will be presently described. The great doors at the top of hall stairs were made fast by a massive oak beam, which was thrust back into a hole in the thickness of the wall when the doors were open.
What a rush that used to be up the old stairs; in an instant the half-doors of the hatches were closed up with a throng of excited breakfast fags, clambering on each other’s backs, and shouting, “Robinson, Jones, my own,” which being interpreted means a demand for trenchers and knives for his masters (some Præfect and Candlekeeper) and for the applicant himself; he being expected to provide two for each of the former, (if he only produced one, it would probably be used to test his descent from the founder,) “his own” were generally ethereal. The crowd and excitement were much greater at this than at either of the other hatches, inasmuch as the supply of trenchers and knives was limited, the latter especially, as they were found (and still oftener lost) by the boys themselves; whereas at the others, the supply of eatables was always certain.
Having secured his master’s trenchers, knife and fork, and bread and butter, the fag had to run down to Conduit to clean the butter, which was done by battering it against the trencher with a knife under a stream of water. This was easy enough in warm weather; but when cold it was a rather heart-breaking operation, as the butter then persisted in breaking up into crumbs, and rolling about the pavement. The butter washed, then came the toasting; the grates were spacious, but still not large enough for the crowd of toasters, especially as the four corners were occupied each by a boy engaged in frying or grilling potatoes, kidneys, bacon, or some other viands.
BREAKFAST IN HALL.
What acres of toast I have made at that fire! We had not proper toasting forks, but pieces of stick, called “Long Forks,” on which it was difficult to keep the toast, especially as it was always necessary to have at least one eye fixed on the batch already done, or awaiting the operation,—in either case generally placed against the edge of the fender; if your eye wandered for a minute, a dexterous lunge from some predacious long-fork transfixed the fruit of all your toil.
“Sic vos non vobis,” &c.
But I must not moralise too much on this iniquity, my own house being built somewhat after the fashion of the Crystal Palace.