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BigC++
Cay Horstmann
Late
Objects
3/e
vi Preface
Example Table Example table activities make the student the active participant in
building up tables of code examples similar to those found in the book. The tables
come in many different forms. Some tables ask the student to determine the output of
a line of code, or the value of an expression, or to provide code for certain tasks. This
activity helps students assess their understanding of the reading—while it is easy to
go back and review.
Algorithm Animation An algorithm animation shows the essential steps of an
algorithm. However, instead of passively watching, students get to predict each step.
When finished, students can start over with a different set of inputs. This is a surpris-
ingly effective way of learning and remembering algorithms.
Rearrange Code Rearrange code activities ask the student to arrange lines of code
by dragging them from the list on the right to the area at left so that the resulting code
fulfills the task described in the problem. This activity builds facility with coding
structure and implementing common algorithms.
Object Diagram Object diagram activities ask the student to create a memory
diagram to illustrate how variables and objects are initialized and updated as sample
code executes. The activity depicts variables, objects, and references in the same way
as the figures in the book. After an activity is completed, pressing “Play” replays the
animation. This activity goes beyond hand-tracing to illuminate what is happening in
memory as code executes.
Code Completion Code completion activities ask the student to finish a partially-
completed program, then paste the solution into CodeCheck (a Wiley-based online
code evaluator) to learn whether it produces the desired result. Tester classes on the
CodeCheck site run and report whether the code passed the tests. This activity serves
as a skill-building lab to better prepare the student for writing programs from scratch.
Fundamentals
1. Introduction
Object-Oriented Design
Data Structures & Algorithms
2. Fundamental
Data Types
3. Decisions
4. Loops
A gentle
introduction to recursion
5. Functions is optional.
Section 8.1
contains the core
material
6. Arrays
6. Iteration
and Vectors
16. Trees
Appendices
Appendices A and B summarize C++ reserved words and operators. Appendix C
lists character escape sequences and ASCII character code values. Appendix D docu-
ments all of the library functions and classes used in this book.
Appendix E contains a programming style guide. Using a style guide for program
ming assignments benefits students by directing them toward good habits and reduc-
ing gratuitous choice. The style guide is available in electronic form on the book’s
companion web site so that instructors can modify it to reflect their preferred style.
Appendix F introduces common number systems used in computing.
Web Resources
This book is complemented by a complete suite of online resources. Go to www.wiley.
com/go/bclo3 to visit the online companion sites, which include
• Source code for all example programs in the book and its Worked Examples, plus
additional example programs.
• Worked Examples that apply the problem-solving steps in the book to other
realistic examples.
• Lecture presentation slides (for instructors only).
• Solutions to all review and programming exercises (for instructors only).
• A test bank that focuses on skills, not just terminology (for instructors only). This
extensive set of multiple-choice questions can be used with a word processor or
imported into a course management system.
• “CodeCheck” assignments that allow students to work on programming prob-
lems presented in an innovative online service and receive immediate feedback.
Instructors can assign exercises that have already been prepared, or easily add
their own. Visit http://codecheck.it to learn more.
EXAMPLE CODE See how_to_1/scores_vector in your companion code for a solution using vectors instead of arrays.
Walkthrough ix
These three
expressions should be related.
See Programming Tip 4.1.
The for loop neatly groups the initialization, condition, and update expressions
together. However, it is important to realize that these expressions are not executed
together (see Figure 3).
A recipe for a fruit pie may say to use any kind of fruit.
Here, “fruit” is an example of a parameter variable.
Apples and cherries are examples of arguments.
HOW TO 1.1
Describing an Algorithm with Pseudocode
This is the first of many “How To” sections in this book that give you step-by-step proce-
dures for carrying out important tasks in developing computer programs.
Before you are ready to write a program in C++, you need to develop an algorithm—a
method for arriving at a solution for a particular problem. Describe the algorithm in pseudo-
code––a sequence of precise steps formulated in English. To illustrate, we’ll devise an algo-
rithm for this problem:
How To guides give step-by-step
Problem Statement You have the choice of buying one guidance for common programming
of two cars. One is more fuel efficient than the other, but also
more expensive. You know the price and fuel efficiency (in miles tasks, emphasizing planning and
per gallon, mpg) of both cars. You plan to keep the car for ten
years. Assume a price of $4 per gallon of gas and usage of 15,000 testing. They answer the beginner’s
miles per year. You will pay cash for the car and not worry about
financing costs. Which car is the better deal? © dlewis33/Getty Images. question, “Now what do I do?” and
Step 1 Determine the inputs and outputs. integrate key concepts into a
In our sample problem, we have these inputs: problem-solving sequence.
• purchase price1 and fuel efficiency1, the price and fuel efficiency (in mpg) of the first car
• purchase price2 and fuel efficiency2, the price and fuel efficiency of the second car
Problem Statement Your task is to tile a rectangular bathroom floor with alternating Worked Examples apply
black and white tiles measuring 4 × 4 inches. The floor dimensions, measured in inches, are
multiples of 4. the steps in the How To to
Step 1 Determine the inputs and outputs.
a different example, showing
The inputs are the floor dimensions (length × width), how they can be used to
measured in inches. The output is a tiled floor.
Step 2 Break down the problem into smaller tasks.
plan, implement, and test
A natural subtask is to lay one row of tiles. If you can a solution to another
solve that task, then you can solve the problem by lay-
ing one row next to the other, starting from a wall, until programming problem.
you reach the opposite wall.
How do you lay a row? Start with a tile at one wall.
If it is Names
Table 3 Variable white, putin
a black
C++ one next to it. If it is black, put
a white one next to it. Keep going until you reach the
Variable Name wall. The row will contain width / 4 tiles.
opposite Comment © rban/iStockphoto.
1 Initialize counter
side_length = for (counter = 1; counter <= 10; counter++)
{
cout << counter << endl;
2 Initializing function parameter variable counter = 1 }
result1 =
double result1 = cube_volume(2);
2 Check condition
side_length = for (counter = 1; counter <= 10; counter++)
2
{
cout << counter << endl;
counter = 1 }
3 About to return to the caller result1 =
EXAMPLE CODE See sec04 of your companion code for another implementation of the earthquake program that you
Additional example programs
saw in Section 3.3. Note that the get_description function has multiple return statements.
are provided with the companion
code for students to read, run,
and modify.
xii Walkthrough
For example, let’s trace the tax program with the data from the
more productive with tips and program run in Section 3.4. In lines 13 and 14, tax1 and tax2 are
Hand-tracing helps you
understand whether a
initialized to 0. program works correctly.
techniques such as hand-tracing. 6 int main()
7 {
8 const double RATE1 = 0.10; marital
9 const double RATE2 = 0.25; tax1 tax2 income status
10 const double RATE1_SINGLE_LIMIT = 32000;
11 const double RATE1_MARRIED_LIMIT = 64000; 0 0
12
13 double tax1 = 0;
14 double tax2 = 0;
15
In lines 18 and 22, income and marital_status are initialized by input statements.
16 double income;
17 cout << "Please enter your income: ";
18 cin >> income; marital
19 tax1 tax2 income status
20 cout << "Please enter s for single, m for married: ";
21 string marital_status; 0 0 80000 m
22 cin >> marital_status;
23
Special Topics present optional In each iteration of the loop, v is set to an element of the vector. Note that you do not use an
index variable. The value of v is the element, not the index of the element.
topics and provide additional If you want to modify elements, declare the loop variable as a reference:
for (int& v : values)
explanation of others. {
v++;
}
This loop increments all elements of the vector.
You can use the reserved word auto, which was introduced in Special Topic 2.3, for the type
of the element variable:
for (auto v : values) { cout << v << " "; }
The range-based for loop also works for arrays:
int primes[] = { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13 };
for (int p : primes)
{
cout << p << " ";
}
Computing & Society 7.1 Embedded Systems The range-based for loop is a convenient shortcut for visiting or updating all elements of a
vector or an array. This book doesn’t use it because one can achieve the same result by looping
An embedded sys- would feel comfortable upgrading the duced in large volumes. Thus, the pro-
tem is a computer software in their washing machines grammer of an embedded system has
over index values. But if you like the more concise form, and use C++ 11 or later, you should
system that controls a device. The or automobile engines. If you ever a much larger economic incentive to certainly consider using it.
device contains a processor and other handed in a programming assignment conserve resources than the desktop
EXAMPLE CODE See special_topic_5 of your companion code for a program that demonstrates the range-based
hardware and is controlled by a com- that you believed to be correct, only to software programmer. Unfortunately, for loop.
puter program. Unlike a personal have the instructor or grader find bugs trying to conserve resources usually
computer, which has been designed in it, then you know how hard it is to makes it harder to write programs that
to be flexible and run many different write software that can reliably do its work correctly.
computer programs, the hardware task for many years without a chance C and C++ are commonly used
and software of an embedded system of changing it. Quality standards are languages for developing embedded
are tailored to a specific device. Com- especially important in devices whose systems.
puter controlled devices are becom- failure would destroy property or
ing increasingly common, ranging endanger human life. Many personal
from washing machines to medical computer purchasers buy computers Computing & Society presents social
equipment, cell phones, automobile that are fast and have a lot of stor-
engines, and spacecraft.
Several challenges are specific to
age, because the investment is paid
back over time when many programs
and historical topics on computing—for
programming embedded systems.
Most importantly, a much higher stan-
are run on the same equipment. But
the hardware for an embedded device
interest and to fulfill the “historical and
dard of quality control applies. Ven-
dors are often unconcerned about
is not shared––it is dedicated to one
device. A separate processor, memory,
social context” requirements of the
bugs in personal computer software,
because they can always make you
and so on, are built for every copy of
the device. If it is possible to shave a ACM/IEEE curriculum guidelines.
install a patch or upgrade to the next few pennies off the manufacturing © Courtesy of Professor Prabal Dutta.
version. But in an embedded system, cost of every unit, the savings can add
that is not an option. Few consumers up quickly for devices that are pro- The Controller of an Embedded System
Walkthrough xiii
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Don Fowley, Graig Donini, Dan Sayre, Ryann Dannelly, David
Dietz, Laura Abrams, and Billy Ray at John Wiley & Sons for their help with this
project. An especially deep acknowledgment and thanks goes to Cindy Johnson for
her hard work, sound judgment, and amazing attention to detail.
I am grateful to Mark Atkins, Ivy Technical College, Katie Livsie, Gaston College,
Larry Morell, Arkansas Tech University, and Rama Olson, Gaston College, for
their contributions to the supplemental material. Special thanks to Stephen Gilbert,
Orange Coast Community College, for his help with the interactive exercises.
Every new edition builds on the suggestions and experiences of new and prior
reviewers, contributors, and users. We are very grateful to the individuals who pro-
vided feedback, reviewed the manuscript, made valuable suggestions and contribu-
tions, and brought errors and omissions to my attention. They include:
Charles D. Allison, Utah Valley State College
Fred Annexstein, University of Cincinnati
Mark Atkins, Ivy Technical College
Stefano Basagni, Northeastern University
Noah D. Barnette, Virginia Tech
Susan Bickford, Tallahassee Community College
Ronald D. Bowman, University of Alabama, Huntsville
Robert Burton, Brigham Young University
Peter Breznay, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
Richard Cacace, Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola
Kuang-Nan Chang, Eastern Kentucky University
Joseph DeLibero, Arizona State University
Subramaniam Dharmarajan, Arizona State University
Mary Dorf, University of Michigan
Marty Dulberg, North Carolina State University
William E. Duncan, Louisiana State University
John Estell, Ohio Northern University
Waleed Farag, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Evan Gallagher, Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Stephen Gilbert, Orange Coast Community College
Kenneth Gitlitz, New Hampshire Technical Institute
Daniel Grigoletti, DeVry Institute of Technology, Tinley Park
Barbara Guillott, Louisiana State University
Charles Halsey, Richland College
Jon Hanrath, Illinois Institute of Technology
Neil Harrison, Utah Valley University
Jurgen Hecht, University of Ontario
Steve Hodges, Cabrillo College
xvi Acknowledgments
2.1 Variables 26
3 DECISIONS 59
Variable Definitions 26
Number Types 28 3.1 The if Statement 60
Variable Names 29 CE1 A Semicolon After the if Condition 63
The Assignment Statement 30
PT1 Brace Layout 63
Constants 31
PT2 Always Use Braces 64
Comments 31
PT3 Tabs 64
CE1 Using Undefined Variables 33
PT4 Avoid Duplication in Branches 65
CE2 Using Uninitialized Variables 33
ST1 The Conditional Operator 65
PT1 Choose Descriptive Variable Names 33
xvii
xviii Contents
6.2 Common Array Algorithms 185 7.1 Defining and Using Pointers 224
Filling 186 Defining Pointers 224
Copying 186 Accessing Variables Through Pointers 225
Sum and Average Value 186 Initializing Pointers 227
Maximum and Minimum 187 CE1 Confusing Pointers with the Data to Which
Element Separators 187 They Point 228
Counting Matches 187 PT1 Use a Separate Definition for Each Pointer
Linear Search 188 Variable 229
Removing an Element 188 ST1 Pointers and References 229
Inserting an Element 189 7.2 Arrays and Pointers 230
Swapping Elements 190 Arrays as Pointers 230
Reading Input 191 Pointer Arithmetic 230
ST1 Sorting with the C++ Library 192 Array Parameter Variables Are Pointers 232
ST2 A Sorting Algorithm 192 ST2 Using a Pointer to Step Through
ST3 Binary Search 193 an Array 233
6.3 Arrays and Functions 194 CE2 Returning a Pointer to a Local Variable 234
ST4 Constant Array Parameters 198 PT2 Program Clearly, Not Cleverly 234
ST3 Constant Pointers 235
xx Contents
7.3 C and C++ Strings 235 8.5 Command Line Arguments 274
The char Type 235 C&S Encryption Algorithms 277
C Strings 236 HT1 Processing Text Files 278
Character Arrays 237 WE1 Looking for for Duplicates 281
Converting Between C and C++ Strings 237
8.6 Random Access and Binary Files 281
C++ Strings and the [] Operator 238
Random Access 281
ST4 Working with C Strings 238
Binary Files 282
7.4 Dynamic Memory Allocation 240 Processing Image Files 282
CE3 Dangling Pointers 242 C&S Databases and Privacy 286
CE4 Memory Leaks 243
9.6 Constructors 304
8 STREAMS 259 CE2 Trying to Call a Constructor 306
ST1 Overloading 306
8.1 Reading and Writing Text Files 260 ST2 Initializer Lists 307
Opening a Stream 260 ST3 Universal and Uniform Initialization
Reading from a File 261 Syntax 308
Writing to a File 262
9.7 PROBLEM SOLVING Tracing Objects 308
A File Processing Example 262
HT1 Implementing a Class 310
8.2 Reading Text Input 265 WE1 Implementing a Bank Account Class 314
Reading Words 265 C&S Electronic Voting Machines 314
Reading Characters 266
9.8 PROBLEM SOLVING Discovering
Reading Lines 267
Classes 315
CE1 Mixing >> and getline Input 268
PT3 Make Parallel Vectors into Vectors of
ST1 Stream Failure Checking 269
Objects 317
8.3 Writing Text Output 270
9.9 Separate Compilation 318
ST2 Unicode, UTF-8, and C++ Strings 272
9.10 Pointers to Objects 322
8.4 Parsing and Formatting Strings 273
Dynamically Allocating Objects 322
The -> Operator 323
The this Pointer 324
Contents xxi
When Miss Waters has discharged all her fireworks, and has descended from
the throne of her music-stool, a set of Lancers is formed; and, while the
usual mistakes are being made in the figures, the dancers find a fruitful
subject of conversation in surmises that a charade is going to be acted. The
surmise proves to be correct; for when the set has been brought to an end
with that peculiar in-and-out tum-tum-tiddle-iddle-tum-tum-tum movement
which characterises the last figure of Les Lanciers, the trippers on the light
fantastic toe are requested to assemble in the drawing-room, where the
chairs and couches have been pulled up to face the folding doors that lead
into the library. Mr. Verdant Green appears; and, after announcing that the
word to be acted will be one of three syllables, and that each syllable will be
represented by itself, and that then the complete word will be given, throws
open the folding doors for
Scene I. Syllable 1.—Enter the Miss Honeywoods, dressed in fashionable
bonnets and shawls. They are shown in by a footman (Mr. Bouncer) attired in
a peculiarly ingenious and effective livery, made by pulling up the trousers to
the knee, and wearing the dress-coat inside out, so as to display the crimson
silk linings of the sleeves: the effect of Mr. Bouncer's appearance is
considerably heightened by a judicious outlay of flour sprinkled over his hair.
Mr. Bouncer (as footman) gives the ladies chairs, and inquires, "What name
shall I be pleased to say, mem?" Miss Patty answers in a languid and
fashionable voice, "The Ladies Louisa and Arabella Mountfidget." Mr. Bouncer
evaporates with a low bow, leaving the ladies to play with their parasols, and
converse. Lady Arabella (Miss Patty) then expresses a devout wish that Lady
Trotter (wife of Sir Lambkin Trotter, Bart.), in whose house they are supposed
to be, will not keep them waiting as long as she detained her aunt, Lady
Bellwether, when the poor old lady fell asleep from sheer fatigue, and was
found snoring on the sofa. Lady Louisa then falls to an inspection of the
card-tray, and reads the paste-boards of some high-sounding titles not to be
found in Debrett, and expresses wonder as to where Lady Trotter can have
picked up the Duchess of Ditchwater's card, as she (Lady Louisa) is morally
convinced that her Grace can never have condescended to have even sent in
her card by a footman. Becoming impatient at the non-appearance of Lady
Trotter, Miss Patty Honeywood then rings the bell, and, with much asperity of
manner, inquires of Mr. Bouncer (as footman) if Lady Trotter is informed that
the Ladies Louisa and Arabella Mountfidget are waiting to see her? Mr.
Bouncer replies, with a footman's bow, and a footman's hexasperation of his
h's, "Me lady is hawcer hof your ladyships' visit; but me lady is at present
hunable to happear: me lady, 'owever, has give me a message, which she
hasks me to deliver to your ladyships." "Then why don't you deliver it at
once," says Miss Patty, "and not waste the valuable time of the Ladies Louisa
and Arabella Mountfidget? What is the message?" "Me lady," replies Mr.
Bouncer, "requests me to present her compliments to your ladyships, and
begs me to hinform you that me lady is a cleaning of herself!" Amid great
laughter from the audience, the Ladies Mountfidget toss their heads and
flutter grandly out of the room, followed by the floured footman; while Mr.
Verdant Green, unseen by those in front, pushes-to the folding doors, to
show that the first syllable is performed.
Praises of the acting, and guesses at the word, agreeably fill up the time till
the next scene. The Revd Josiah Meek, who is not much used to charades,
confides to Miss Helen Green that he surmises the word to be, either "visitor"
or "impudence" but, as the only ground to this surmise rests on these two
words being words of three syllables, Miss Helen gently repels the idea, and
sagely observes "we shall see more in the next scene."
Scene II. Syllable 2.—The folding-doors open, and discover Mr. Verdant Green,
as a sick gentleman, lying on a sofa, in a dressing-gown, with pillows under
his head, and Miss Patty Honeywood in attendance upon him. A table,
covered with glasses and medicine bottles, is drawn up to the sufferer's
couch in an inviting manner. Miss Patty informs the sufferer that the time is
come for him to take his draught. The sufferer groans in a dismal manner,
and says, "Oh! is it, my dear?" She replies, "Yes! you must take it now;" and
sternly pours some sherry wine out of the medicine bottle into a cup. The
sufferer makes piteous faces, and exclaims, "It is so nasty, I can't take it, my
love!" (It is to be observed that Mr. Verdant Green, skilfully taking advantage
of the circumstance that Miss Patty Honeywood is supposed to represent the
wife of the sufferer, plentifully besprinkles his conversation with endearing
epithets.) When, after much persuasion and groaning, the sufferer has been
induced to take his medicine, his spouse announces the arrival of the doctor;
when, enter Mr. Bouncer, still floured as to his head, but wearing spectacles,
a long black coat, and a shirt-frill, and having his dress otherwise altered so
as to represent a medical man of the old school. The doctor asks what sort
of a night his patient has had, inspects his tongue with professional gravity,
feels his pulse, looks at his watch, and mysteriously shakes his head. He then
commences thrusting and poking Mr. Verdant Green in various parts of his
body,—after the manner of doctors with their victims, and farmers with their
beasts,—enquiring between each poke, "Does that hurt you?" and being
answered by a convulsive "Oh!" and a groan of agony. The doctor then
prescribes a draught to be taken every half-hour, with the pills and blister at
bed-time; and, after covering his two fellow-actors with confusion, by
observing that he leaves his patient in admirable hands, and, that in an
affection of the heart, the application of lip-salve and warm treatment will
give a decided tone to the system, and produce soothing and grateful
emotions—takes his leave; and the folding-doors are closed on the blushes
of Miss Patty Honeywood, and Mr. Verdant Green.
More applause: more agreeable conversation: more ingenious speculations.
The Revd. Josiah Meek is now of opinion that the word is either "medicine"
or "suffering." Miss Helen still sagely observes, "we shall see more in the
next scene."
Scene III. Syllable 3.—Mr. Verdant Green discovered sitting at a table
furnished with pens and ink, books, and rolls of paper. Mr. Verdant Green
wears on his head a Chelsea pensioner's cocked-hat (the "property" of the
Family,—as Mr. Footelights would have said), folded into a shovel shape; and
is supposed to accurately represent the outside of a London publisher. To him
enter Mr. Bouncer—the flour off his head—coat buttoned tightly to the
throat, no visible linen, and wearing in his face and appearance generally,
"the garb of humility." Says the publisher "Now, sir, please to state your
business, and be quick about it: I am much engaged in looking over for the
press a work of a distinguished author, which I am just about to publish."
Meekly replies the other, as he holds under his arm an immense paper
packet: "It is about a work of my own, sir, that I have now ventured to
intrude upon you. I have here, sir, a small manuscript," (producing his roll of
a book), "which I am ambitious to see given to the world through the
medium of your printing establishment." To him, the Publisher—"Already am
I inundated with manuscripts on all possible subjects, and cannot undertake
to look at any more for some time to come. What is the nature of your
manuscript?" Meekly replies the other—"The theme of my work, sir, is a
History of England before the Flood. The subject is both new and interesting.
It is to be presumed that our beloved country existed before the Flood: if so,
it must have had a history. I have therefore endeavoured to fill up what is
lacking in the annals of our land, by a record of its antediluvian state,
adapted to the meanest comprehension, and founded on the most baseless
facts. I am desirous, sir, to see myself in print. I should like my work, sir, to
appear in large letters; in very large letters, sir. Indeed, sir, it would give me
joy, if you would condescend to print it altogether in capital letters: my
magnum opus might then be called with truth, a capital work." To him, the
Publisher—"Much certainly depends on the character of the printing." Meekly
the author—"Indeed, sir, it does. A great book, sir, should be printed in great
letters. If you will permit me, I will show you the size of the letters in which I
should wish my book to be printed." Mr. Bouncer then points out in some
books on the table, the printing he most admires; and, beseeching the
Publisher to read over his manuscript, and think favourably of his History of
England before the Flood, makes his bow to Mr. Verdant Green and the
Chelsea pensioner's cocked hat.
More applause, and speculations. The Revd. Josiah Meek confident that he
has discovered the word. It must be either "publisher" or "authorship." Miss
Helen still sage.
Scene IV. The Word.—Miss Bouncer discovered with her camera, arranging
her photographic chemicals. She soliloquises. "There! now, all is ready for my
sitter." She calls the footman (Mr. Verdant Green), and says, "John, you may
show the Lady Fitz-Canute upstairs." The footman shows in Miss
Honeywood, dressed in an antiquated bonnet and mantle, waving a huge
fan. John gives her a chair, into which she drops, exclaiming, "What an
insufferable toil it is to ascend to these elevated Photographic rooms;" and
makes good use of her fan. Miss Bouncer then fixes the focus of her camera,
and begs the Lady Fitz-Canute to sit perfectly still, and to call up an
agreeable smile to her face. Miss Honeywood thereupon disposes her face in
ludicrous "wreathed smiles;" and Miss Bouncer's head disappears under the
velvet hood of the camera. "I am afraid," at length says Miss Bouncer, "I am
afraid that I shall not be able to succeed in taking a likeness of your ladyship
this morning." "And why, pray?" asks her ladyship with haughty surprise.
"Because it is a gloomy day," replies the Photographer, "and much depends
upon the rays of light." "Then procure the rays of light!" "That is more than I
can do." "Indeed! I suppose if the Lady Fitz-Canute wishes for the rays of
light, and condescends to pay for the rays of light, she can obtain the rays of
light." Miss Bouncer considers this too exigeant, and puts her sitter off by
promising to complete a most fascinating portrait of her on some more
favourable day. Lady Fitz-Canute appears to be somewhat mollified at this,
and is graciously pleased to observe, "Then I will undergo the fatigue of
ascending to these elevated Photographic-rooms at some future period. But,
mind, when I next come, that you procure the rays of light!" So she is shown
out by Mr. Verdant Green, and the folding-doors are closed amid applause,
and the audience distract themselves with guesses as to the word.
"Photograph" is a general favourite, but is found not to agree with the three
first scenes, although much ingenuity is expended in endeavouring to make
them fit the word. The Curate makes a headlong rush at the word
"Daguerreotype," and is confident that he has solved the problem, until he is
informed that it is a word of more than three syllables. Charles Larkyns has
already whispered the word to Mary Green; but they keep their discovery to
themselves. At length, the Revd. Josiah Meek, in a moment of inspiration,
hits upon the word, and proclaims it to be calotype ("Call—oh!—type;") upon
which Mr. Alfred Brindle declares to Miss Fanny Green that he had fancied it
must be that, all along, and, in fact, was just on the point of saying it: and
the actors, coming in in a body, receive the violet-crowns and laurel-wreaths
of praise as the meed of their exertions. Perhaps, the Miss Honeywoods and
Mr. Bouncer receive larger crowns than the others, but Mr. Verdant Green
gets his due share, and is fully satisfied with his first appearance on "the
boards."
Dancing then succeeds, varied by songs from the young ladies, and
discharges of chromatic fireworks from the fingers of Miss Waters, for whom
Charles Larkyns does the polite, in turning over the leaves of her music.
Then some carol-singers come to the Hall-door, and the bells of the church
proclaim, in joyful peals, the birth of the New Year;—a new year of hopes,
and joys, and cares, and griefs, and unions, and partings;—a new year of
which, who then present shall see the end? who shall be there to welcome in
its successor? who shall be absent, laid in the secret places of the earth? Ah,
who? For, even in the midst of revelry and youth, the joy-peals of those old
church bells can strike the key-note of a wail of grief.
Another charade follows, in which new actors join. Then comes a merry
supper, in which Mr. Alfred Brindle, in order to give himself courage to appear
in the next charade, takes more champagne than is good for him; in which,
too (probably, from similar champagney reasons), Miss Parkington's
unfortunately self-willed nose again assumes a more roseate hue than is
becoming to a maiden; in which, too, Mr. Verdant Green being called upon to
return thanks for "the ladies"—(toast, proposed in eloquent terms by H.
Bouncer, Esq., and drunk "with the usual honours,")—is so alarmed at finding
himself upon his legs, that his ideas altogether vanish, and in great confusion
of utterance, he observes,—"I—I—ladies and gentlemen—feel—I—I—a—feel
—assure you—grattered and flattified—I mean, flattered and gratified—being
called on—return thanks—I—I—a—the ladies—give a larm to chife—I mean,
charm to life—(applause)—and—a—a—grace by their table this presence,—I
mean—a—a—(applause),—and joytened our eye—I mean, heighted our joy,
to-night—(applause),—in their name—thanks—honour." Mr. Verdant Green
takes advantage of the applause which follows these incoherent remarks,
and sits down, covered with confusion, but thankful that the struggle is over.
More dancing follows. Our hero performs prodigies in the valse à deux
temps, and twirls about until he has not a leg left to stand upon. The harp,
the violin, and the cornet-à-piston, from the county-town, play mechanically
in their sleep, and can only be roused by repeated applications of gin-and-
water. Carriages are ordered round: wraps are in requisition: the mysterious
rites under the white-berried bush are stealthily repeated for the last time:
the guests depart, as it were, in a heap; the Rectory party being the last to
leave. The intelligent Mr. Mole, who has fuddled himself by an injudicious
mixture of the half-glasses of wine left on the supper-table, is exasperated
with the butler for not allowing him to assist in putting away the silver; and
declares that he (the butler) is "a hold himage," for which, he (the intelligent
Mr. M.), "don't care a button!" and, as the epithet "image" appears to
wondrously offend the butler, Mr. Mole is removed from further consequences
by his intelligent wife, who is waiting to conduct her lord and master home.
At length, the last light is out in the Manor-Green. Mr. Verdant Green is lying
uncomfortably upon his back, and is waltzing through Dreamland with the
blooming Patty Honeywood.
CHAPTER X.
MR. VERDANT GREEN ENJOYS A REAL CIGAR.
The Christmas vacation passed rapidly away; the Honeywood family returned
to the far north; and, once more, Mr. Verdant Green found himself within the
walls of Brazenface. He and Mr. Bouncer had together gone up to Oxford,
leaving Charles Larkyns behind to keep a grace-term.
Charles Larkyns had determined to take a good degree. For some time past,
he had been reading steadily; and, though only a few hours in each day may
be given to books—yet, when that is done, with regularity and painstaking, a
real and sensible progress is made. He knew that he had good abilities, and
he had determined not to let them remain idle any longer, but to make that
use of them for which they were given to him. His examination would come
on during the next term; and he hoped to turn the interval to good account,
and be able in the end to take a respectable degree. He was destined for the
Bar; and, as he had no wish to be a briefless Barrister, he knew that college
honours would be of great advantage to him in his after career. He, at once,
therefore, set bodily to work to read up his subjects; while his father assisted
him in his labours, and Mary Green smiled a kind approval.
Meanwhile, his friends, Mr. Verdant Green and Mr. Henry Bouncer, were
enjoying Oxford life, and disporting themselves among the crowd of skaters
in the Christ Church meadows. And a very different scene did the meadows
present to the time when they had last skimmed over its surface. Then, the
green fields were covered with sailing-boats, out-riggers, and punts, and Mr.
Verdant Green had nearly come to an untimely end in the waters. But now
the scene was changed! Jack Frost had stepped in, and had seized the flood
in his frozen fingers, and had bound it up in an icy breast-plate.
And a capital place did the meadows make for any Undergraduate who was
either a professed skater, or whose skating education (as in the case of our
hero) had been altogether neglected. For the water was only of a moderate
depth; so that, in the event of the ice giving way, there was nothing to fear
beyond a slight and partial ducking. This was especially fortunate for Mr.
Verdant Green, who, after having experienced total submersion and a narrow
escape from drowning on that very spot, would never have been induced to
again commit himself to the surface of the deep, had he not been fully
convinced that the deep had now subsided into a shallow. With his breast
fortified by this resolution, he therefore fell a victim to the syren tongue of
Mr. Bouncer, when that gentleman observed to him with sincere feeling,
"Giglamps, old fellow! it would be a beastly shame, when there's such jolly
ice, if you did not learn to skate; especially, as I can show you the trick."
For, Mr. Bouncer was not only skilful with his hands and arms, but could also
perform feats with his feet. He could not only dance quadrilles in dress boots
in a ball-room, but he could also go through the figures on the ice in a pair
of skates. He could do the outside edge at a more acute angle than the
generality of people; he could cut figures of eight that were worthy of Cocker
himself, he could display spread-eagles that would have astonished the
Fellows of the Zoological Society. He could skim over the thinnest ice in the
most don't-care way; and, when at full speed, would stoop to pick up a
stone. He would take a hop-skip-and-a-jump; and would vault over walking-
sticks, as easily as if he were on dry land,—an accomplishment which he had
learnt of the Count Doembrownski, a Russian gentleman, who, in his own
country, lived chiefly on skates, and, in this country, on pigeons, and whose
short residence in Oxford was suddenly brought to a full stop by the arbitrary
power of the Vice-Chancellor. So, Mr. Verdant Green was persuaded to
purchase, and put on a pair of skates, and to make his first appearance as a
skater in the Christ Church meadows, under the auspices of Mr. Bouncer.
The sensation of first finding yourself in a pair
of skates is peculiar. It is not unlike the
sensation which must have been felt by the
young bear, when he was dropped from his
mamma's mouth, and, for the first time, told to
walk. The poor little bear felt, that it was all
very well to say "walk,"—but how was he to do
it? Was he to walk with his right fore-leg only?
or, with his left fore-leg? or, with both his fore-
legs? or, was he to walk with his right hind-leg?
or, with his left hind-leg? or, with both his hind-
legs? or, was he to make a combination of hind
and fore-legs, and walk with all four at once? or,
what was he to do? So he tried each of these
ways; and they all failed. Poor little bear!
Mr. Verdant Green felt very much in the little bear's condition. He was
undecided whether to skate with his right leg, or with his left leg, or with
both his legs. He tried his right leg, and immediately it glided off at right
angles with his body, while his left leg performed a similar and spontaneous
movement in the contrary direction. Having captured his left leg, he put it
cautiously forwards, and immediately it twisted under him, while his right leg
amused itself by describing an altogether unnecessary circle. Obtaining a
brief mastery over both legs, he put them forwards at the same moment,
and they fled from beneath him, and he was flung—bump!—on his back.
Poor little bear!
But, if it is hard to make a start in a pair of skates when you are in a
perpendicular position, how much is the difficulty increased when your
position has become a horizontal one! You raise yourself on your knees,—you
assist yourself with your hands,—and, no sooner have you got one leg right,
than away slides the other, and down you go. It is like the movement in that
scene with the pair of short stilts, in which the French clowns are so
amusing, and it is almost as difficult to perform. Mr. Verdant Green soon
found that though he might be ambitious to excel in the polite
accomplishment of skating, yet that his ambition was destined to meet with
many a fall. But he persevered, and perseverance will achieve wonders,
especially when aided by the tuition of such an indefatigable gentleman as
Mr. Bouncer.
"You get on stunningly, Giglamps," said the little gentleman, "and hav'nt
been on your beam ends more than once a minute. But I should advise you,
old fellow, to get your sit-upons seated with wash-leather,—just like the
eleventh hussars do with their cherry-coloured pants. It'll come cheaper in
the end, and may be productive of comfort. And now, after all these exciting
ups and downs, let us go and have a quiet hand at billiards." So the two
friends strolled up the High, where they saw two Queensmen "confessing
their shame," as Mr. Bouncer phrased it, by standing under the gateway of
their college; and went on to Bickerton's, where they found all the tables
occupied, and Jonathan playing a match with Mr. Fluke of Christchurch. So,
after watching the celebrated marker long enough to inspire them with a
desire to accomplish similar feats of dexterity, they continued their walk to
Broad Street, and, turning up a yard opposite to the Clarendon, found that
Betteris had an upstair room at liberty. Here they accomplished several
pleasing mathematical problems with the balls, and contributed their
modicum towards the smoking of the ceiling of the room.
Since Mr. Verdant Green had acquired the art of getting through a cigar
without making himself ill, he had looked upon himself as a genuine smoker;
and had, from time to time, bragged of his powers as regarded the
fumigation of "the herb Nicotiana, commonly called tobacco," (as the Oxford
statute tersely says). This was an amiable weakness on his part that had not
escaped the observant eye of Mr. Bouncer, who had frequently taken
occasion, in the presence of his friends, to defer to Mr. Verdant Green's
judgment in the matter of cigars. The train of adulation being thus laid, an
opportunity was only needed to fire it. It soon came.
"Once upon a time," as the story-books say, it chanced that Mr. Bouncer was
consuming his minutes and cigars at his tobacconist's, when his eye lighted
for the thousandth time on the roll of cabbage-leaves, brown paper, and
refuse tobacco, which being done up into the form of a monster cigar (a foot
long, and of proportionate thickness), was hung in the shop-window, and did
duty as a truthful token of the commodity vended within. Mr. Bouncer had
looked at this implement nine hundred and ninety nine times, without its
suggesting anything else to his mind, than its being of the same class of art
as the monster mis-representations outside wild-beast shows; but he now
gazed upon it with new sensations. In short, Mr. Bouncer took such a fancy
to the thing, that he purchased it, and took it off to his rooms,—though he
did not mention this fact to his friend, Mr. Verdant Green, when he saw him
soon afterwards, and spoke to him of his excellent judgment in tobacco.
"A taste for smoke comes natural, Giglamps!" said Mr. Bouncer. "It's what
you call a nascitur non fit; and, if you haven't the gift, why you can't
purchase it. Now, you're a judge of smoke; it's a gift with you, don't you see;
and you could no more help knowing a good weed from a bad one, than you
could help waggling your tail if you were a baa-lamb."
Mr. Verdant Green bowed, and blushed, in acknowledgment of this delightful
flattery.
"Now, there's old Footelights, you know; he's got an uncle, who's a governor,
or some great swell, out in Barbadoes. Well, every now and then the old
trump sends Footelights no end of a box of weeds; not common ones, you
understand, but regular tip-toppers; but they're quite thrown away on poor
Footelights, who'd think as much of cabbage-leaves as he would of real
Havannahs, so he's always obliged to ask somebody else's opinion about
them. Well, he's got a sample of a weed of a most terrific kind:—Magnifico
Pomposo is the name;—no end uncommon, and at least a foot long. We
don't meet with 'em in England because they're too expensive to import.
Well, it would'nt do to throw away such a weed as this on any one; so,
Footelights wants to have the opinion of a man who's really a judge of what
a good weed is. I refused, because my taste has been rather out of order
lately; and Billy Blades is in training for Henley, so he's obliged to decline; so
I told him of you, Giglamps, and said, that if there was a man in Brazenface
that could tell him what his Magnifico Pomposo was worth, that man was
Verdant Green. Don't blush, old feller! you can't help having a fine judgment,
you know; so don't be ashamed of it. Now, you must wine with me this
evening; Footelights and some more men are coming; and we're all anxious
to hear your opinion about these new weeds, because, if it's favourable we
can club together, and import a box." Mr. Bouncer's victim, being perfectly
unconscious of the trap laid for him, promised to come to the wine, and give
his opinion on this weed of fabled size and merit.
When the evening and company had
come, he was rather staggered at
beholding the dimensions of the pseudo-
cigar; but, rashly judging that to express
surprise would be to betray ignorance,
Mr. Verdant Green inspected the
formidable monster with the air of a
connoisseur, and smelt, pinched, and
rolled his tongue round it, after the
manner of the best critics. If this was a
diverting spectacle to the assembled
guests of Mr. Bouncer, how must the
humour of the scene have been
increased, when our hero, with great
difficulty, lighted the cigar, and, with still greater difficulty, held it in his
mouth, and endeavoured to smoke it! As Mr. Foote afterwards observed, "it
was a situation for a screaming farce."
"It doesn't draw well!" faltered the victim, as the bundle of rubbish went out
for the fourth time.
"Why, that's always the case with the Barbadoes baccy!" said Mr. Bouncer; "it
takes a long pull, and a strong pull, and a pull all together to get it to make a
start; but when once it does go, it goes beautiful—like a house a-fire. But
you can't expect it to be like a common threepenny weed. Here! let me light
him for you, Giglamps; I'll give the beggar a dig in his ribs, as a gentle
persuader." Mr. Bouncer thereupon poked his pen-knife through the rubbish,
and after a time induced it to "draw;" and Mr. Verdant Green pulled at it
furiously, and made his eyes water with the unusual cloud of smoke that he
raised.
"And now, what d'ye think of it, my beauty?" inquired Mr. Bouncer. "It's
something out of the common, ain't it?"
"It has a beautiful ash!" observed Mr. Smalls.
"And diffuses an aroma that makes me long to defy the trainer, and smoke
one like it!" said Mr. Blades.
"So pray give me your reading—at least, your opinion,—on my Magnifico
Pomposo!" asked Mr. Foote.
"Well," answered Mr. Verdant Green, slowly—turning very pale as he spoke,
—"at first, I thought it was be-yew-tiful; but, altogether, I think—that—the
Barbadoes tobacco—doesn't quite—agree with—my stom—" the speaker
abruptly concluded by dropping the cigar, putting his handkerchief to his
mouth, and rushing into Mr. Bouncer's bedroom. The Magnifico Pomposo had
been too much for him, and had produced sensations accurately interpreted
by Mr. Bouncer, who forthwith represented in expressive pantomine, the
actions of a distressed voyager, when he feebly murmurs "Steward!"
To atone for the "chaffing" which he had been the means of inflicting on his
friend, the little gentleman, a few days afterwards, proposed to take our hero
to the Chipping Norton Steeple-chase,—Mr. Smalls and Mr. Fosbrooke making
up the quartet for a tandem. It was on their return from the races, that, after
having stopped at The Bear at Woodstock, "to wash out the horses' mouths,"
and having done this so effectually that the horses had appeared to have no
mouths left, and had refused to answer the reins, and had smashed the cart
against a house, which had seemed to have danced into the middle of the
road for their diversion,—and, after having put back to The Bear, and
prevailed upon that animal to lend them a non-descript vehicle of the "pre-
adamite buggy" species, described by Sidney Smith,—that, much time having
been consumed by the progress of this chapter of accidents, they did not
reach Peyman's Gate until a late hour; and Mr. Verdant Green found that he
was once more in difficulties. For they had no sooner got through the gate,
than the wild octaves from Mr. Bouncer's post-horn were suddenly brought to
a full stop, and Mr. Fosbrooke, who was the "waggoner," was brought to
Woh! and was compelled to pull up in obedience to the command of the
proctor, who, as on a previous occasion, suddenly appeared from behind the
toll-house, in company with his marshall and bull-dogs.
The Sentence pronounced on our hero the next day, was, "Sir!—You will
translate all your lectures; have your name crossed on the buttery and
kitchen books; and be confined to chapel, hall, and college."
This sentence was chiefly annoying, inasmuch as it somewhat interfered with
the duties and pleasures attendant upon his boating practice. For, wonderful
to relate, Mr. Verdant Green had so much improved in the science, that he
was now "Number 3" of his college "Torpid," and was in hard training. The
Torpid races commenced on March 10th, and were continued on the
following days. Our hero sent his father a copy of "Tintinnabulum's Life,"
which—after informing the Manor Green family that "the boats took up
positions in the following order: Brazenose, Exeter 1, Wadham, Balliol, St.
John's, Pembroke, University, Oriel, Brazenface, Christ Church 1, Worcester,
Jesus, Queen's, Christ Church 2, Exeter 2"—proceeded to enter into
particulars of each day's sport, of which it is only necessary to record such as
gave interest to our hero's family.
"First day. * * * Brazenface refused to acknowledge the bump by Christ
Church (1) before they came to the Cherwell. There is very little doubt but
that they were bumped at the Gut and the Willows. * * *
"Second day. * * * Brazenface rowed pluckily away from Worcester. * * *
"Third day. * * * A splendid race between Brazenface and Worcester; and, at
the flag, the latter were within a foot; they did not, however, succeed in
bumping. The cheering from the Brazenface barge was vociferous. * * *
"Fourth day. * * * Worcester was more fortunate, and succeeded in making
the bump at the Cherwell, in consequence of No. 3 of the Brazenface boat
fainting from fatigue."
Under "No. 3" Mr. Verdant Green had drawn a pencil line, and had written
"V. G." He shortly after related to his family the gloomy particulars of the
bump, when he returned home for the Easter vacation.
CHAPTER XI.
MR. VERDANT GREEN GETS THROUGH HIS SMALLS.
Despite the hindrance which the grande passion is supposed to bring to the
student, Charles Larkyns had made very good use of the opportunities
afforded him by the leisure of his grace-term. Indeed, as he himself
observed,
"Who hath not owned, with
rapture-smitten frame,
The power of grace?"
And as he felt that the hours of his grace-term had not been wasted in
idleness, but had been turned to profitable account, it is not at all unlikely
that his pleasures of hope regarding his Degree-examination, and the
position his name would occupy in the Class-list, were of a roseate hue. He
therefore, when the Easter vacation had come to an end, returned to Oxford
in high spirits, with our hero and his friend Mr. Bouncer, who, after a brief
visit to "the Mum," had passed the remainder of the vacation at the Manor
Green. During these few holiday weeks, Charles Larkyns had acted as private
tutor to his two friends, and had, in the language of Mr. Bouncer, "put them
through their paces uncommon;" for the little gentleman was going in for his
Degree, alias Great-go, alias Greats; and our hero for his first examination in
literis humanioribus, alias Responsions, alias Little-go, alias Smalls. Thus the
friends returned to Oxford mutually benefited; but, as the time for
examination drew nearer and still nearer, the fears of Mr. Bouncer rose in a
gradation of terrors, that threatened to culminate in an actual panic.
"You see," said the little gentleman, "the Mum's set her heart on my getting
through, and I must read like the doose. And I havn't got the head, you see,
for Latin and Greek; and that beastly Euclid altogether stumps me; and I feel
as though I should come to grief. I'm blowed," the little gentleman would cry,
earnestly and sadly, "I'm blow'd if I don't think they must have given me too
much pap when I was a babby, and softened my brains! or else, why can't I
walk into these classical parties just as easy as you, Charley, or old Giglamps
there? But I can't, you see: my brains are addled. They say it ain't a bad
thing for reading to get your head shaved. It cools your brains, and gives full
play to what you call your intellectual faculties. I think I shall try the dodge,
and get a gent's real head of hair, till after the exam.; and then, when I've
stumped the examiners, I can wear my own luxuriant locks again."
And, as Mr. Bouncer professed, so did he; and, not many days after,
astonished his friends and the University generally by appearing in a wig of
curly black hair. It was a pleasing sight to see the little gentleman with a
scalp like a billiard ball, a pipe in his mouth, and the wig mounted on a block,
with books spread before him, endeavouring to persuade himself that he was
working up his subjects. It was still more pleasing to view him, in moments
of hilarity, divest himself of his wig, and hurl it at the scout, or any other
offensive object that appeared before him. And it was a sight not to be
forgotten by the beholders, when, after too recklessly partaking of an
indiscriminate mixture of egg-flip, sangarce, and cider-cup, he feebly threw
his wig at the spectacles of Mr. Verdant Green, and, overbalanced by the
exertion, fell back into the coal-scuttle, where he lay, bald-headed and
helpless, laughing and weeping by turns, and caressed by Huz and Buz.
But the shaving of his head was not the only feature (or, rather, loss of
feature) that distinguished Mr. Bouncer's reading for his degree. The
gentleman with the limited knowledge of the cornet-à-piston, who had the
rooms immediately beneath those of our hero and his friend, had made such
slow progress in his musical education, that he had even now scarcely got
into his "Cottage near a Wood." This gentleman was Mr. Bouncer's
Frankenstein. He was always rising up when he was not wanted. When Mr.
Bouncer felt as if he could read, and sat down to his books, wigless and
determined, the doleful legend of the cottage near a wood was forced upon
him in an unpleasingly obtrusive and distracting manner. It was in vain that
Mr. Bouncer sounded his octaves in all their discordant variations; the
gentleman had no ear, and was not to be put out of his cottage on any
terms; Mr. Bouncer's notices of ejectment were always disregarded. He had
hoped that the ears of Mr. Slowcoach (whose rooms were in the angle of the
Quad) would have been pierced by the noise, and that he would have put a
stop to the nuisance; but, either from its being too customary a custom, or
that the ears of Mr. Slowcoach had grown callous, the nuisance was suffered
to continue unreproved.
Mr. Bouncer resolved, therefore, on some desperate method of calling
attention to one nuisance, by creating another of a louder description; and,
as his octaves appeared to fail in this,—notwithstanding the energy and
annoying ability that he threw into them,—he conceived the idea of setting
up a drum! The plan was no sooner thought of than carried out. He met with
an instrument sufficiently large and formidable for his purpose,—hired it, and
had it stealthily conveyed into college (like another Falstaff) in a linen "buck-
basket." He waited his opportunity; and, the next time that the gentleman in
the rooms beneath took his cornet to his cottage near a wood, Mr. Bouncer,
stationed on the landing above, played a thundering accompaniment on his
big drum.
The echoes from the tightened parchment rolled round the Quad, and
brought to the spot a rush of curious and excited undergraduates. Mr.
Bouncer,—after taking off his wig in honour of the air,—then treated them to
the National Anthem, arranged as a drum solo for two sticks, the chorus
being sustained by the voices of those present; when in the midst of the
entertainment, the reproachful features of Mr. Slowcoach appeared upon the
scene. Sternly the tutor demanded the reason of the strange hubbub; and
was answered by Mr. Bouncer, that, as one gentleman was allowed to play
his favourite instrument whenever he chose, for his own but no one else's
gratification, he could not see why he (Mr. Bouncer) might not also,
whenever he pleased, play for his own gratification his favourite instrument—
the big drum. This specious excuse, although logical, was not altogether
satisfactory to Mr. Slowcoach; and, with some asperity, he ordered Mr.
Bouncer never again to indulge in, what he termed (in reference probably to
the little gentleman's bald head), "such an indecent exhibition." But, as he
further ordered that the cornet-à-piston gentleman was to instrumentally
enter into his cottage near a wood, only at stated hours in the afternoon, Mr.
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