Edmund Blair Leighton Stitching the Standard

Edmund Blair Leighton Stitching the StandardFrancois Boucher Nude on a SofaFrank Dicksee La Belle Dame Sans MerciBenjamin Williams Leader The Last Gleam, Wargrave on ThamesGustave Clarence Rodolphe Boulanger La Fille De Ferme
Ponder Stibbons, luckiest post‑graduate wizard in the history of the University, sauntered happily towards the secret entrance over the wall. His otherwise uncrowded mind was pleasantly awash with thoughts of beer and After a while the Lecturer in Recent Runes said, ‘That was young Stibbons, wasn’t it? Has he gone?’
‘I think so.’
‘He’s bound to say something to someone.’
‘No he won’t,’ said the Dean.maybe a visit to the clicks and maybe a Klatchian extra‑hot curry to round off the evening, and then–It was the second worst moment in his life.They were all there. All the senior staff. Even the Dean. Even old Poons in his wheelchair. All standing there in the shadows, looking at him very sternly. Paranoia exploded its dark fireworks in the dustbin of his mind. They were all waiting just for him.He froze.The Dean spoke.‘Oh. Oh. Oh. Er. Ah. Um. Um,’ he began, and then seemed to catch up with his tongue. ‘Oh. What’s this? Forward this minute, that man!’Ponder hesitated. Then he ran for it.