"They say midshipmen and Oxonians have more lives than a cat, and they have need of them if they run such risks." Once, but once only, he was guilty, as an innocent freshman, of a breach of the laws of his order.

He wrote too good an essay.

He tells his father: "OXFORD, _February_, 1837.
"Yesterday (Saturday) forenoon the Sub-dean sent for me, took me up into his study, sat down with me, and read over my essay, pointing out a few verbal alterations and suggesting improvements; I, of course, expressed myself highly grateful for his condescension.
Going out, I met Strangeways.

'So you're going to read out to-day, Ruskin.

_Do_ go it at a good rate, my good fellow.