Duke of Minories' son. I dare say you know the other man. No! Why,
he is Lord Thomas Peeper, eldest son of the Lord Godiva who hunts our
county. I knew him in the field."

"But why do they wear ~gold~ tassels to their caps?" inquired the
freshman.

"Ah," said the ingenious Mr. Larkyns, shaking his head; "I had rather
you'd not have asked me that question, because that's the disgraceful
part of the business. But these lords, you see, they ~will~ live at
a faster pace than us commoners, who can't stand a champagne
breakfast above once a term or so. Why, those gold tassels are the
badges of drunkenness!"*

"Of drunkenness! dear me!"

"Yes, it's very sad, isn't it?" pursued Mr. Larkyns; "and I wonder
that Peeper in particular should give way to such

---
* As "Tufts" and "Tuft-hunters" have become "household words," it is
perhaps needless to tell any one that the gold tassel is the
distinguishing mark of a nobleman.
-=-


[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 69]

things. But you see how they brazen it out, and walk about as coolly
as though nothing had happened. It's just the same sort of