ows," said Tom, taking me by the hand, and leading me forwards to
his companions, "allow me to introduce an ex{3}-college man,--Blackmantle
of Brazennose, a freshman{4} and an Etonian: so, lay to him, boys;
he's just broke loose from the Land of Sheepishness,{5} passed Pupils
Straits{6} and the Isle of Matriculation{7} to follow Dads Will,{8} in
the Port of Stuffs{9}; from which, if he can steer clear of the Fields
of Temptation{10}

2 Smuggled dinners are private parties in a student's room,
when the dinner is brought into college from a tavern:
various are the ingenious stratagems of the togati to elude
the vigilance of the authorities: trunks, packing-boxes,
violoncello-cases, and hampers are not unfrequently directed
as if from a waggon or coach-office, and brought into
college on the shoulders of some porter. Tin cans of soup
are drawn up by means of a string from the back windows in
the adjoining street. It is not long since Mr. C- of Christ
Church was expelled for having a dinner smuggled into
college precisely in the manner adopted by Tom Echo.

3 A University man who is visiting in a college of which he
is

not a member.

4 The usual phrase for initiating a freshman on his first
appearance in a party or frisk.

5 Land of Sheepishness--School-boy's bondage.

6 Pupil's Straits--Interval between restraint and liberty.

7 Isle of Matriculation--First entrance into the University.

8 Dad's Will--Parental authority.

9 Port for Stay's--Assumption of commoner's gown.

10 Fields of Temptation--The attractions held out to him.

~134~~ he hopes to make the _Land of Promise_,{11} anchor his bark in
the _Isthmus of Grace_,{12} and lay up snugly for life on the _Land
of Incumbents_."{13} "For heaven's sake, Tom," said I," speak in some
intelligible language; it's hardly fair to fire off your battery of
Oxonian wit upon a poor freshman at first sight." At this moment a rap
at the _oak_ announced an addition to our party, and in bounded that
light-hearted child of whim, Horace Eglantine:--"What, Blackmantle here?
Why then, Tom, we can form as complete a trio as ever got _bosky_{14}
with _bishop_{15} in _the province of Bacchus_,{16}! Why, what a plague,
my old fellow, has given you that rueful-looking countenance? I am sure
you was not plucked upon _Maro Common_ or _Homer Downs_{17} in passing
ex