an is a delightful fellow, yet I shouldn't imagine that he
would make a successful abbot for long.

I enjoyed Compline most of all my experiences during the day, after
which I retired to my cell and slept without turning till the bell
rang for Lauds and Prime, both said as one office at six o'clock,
after which I should have liked a conventual Mass. But alas, there
is no priest here and I have been spending the time till breakfast
by writing you this endless letter.

Yours ever affectionately,

Mark.

P.S. They don't say Mattins, which I'm inclined to think rather
slack. But I suppose I oughtn't to criticize so soon.

To those two letters of Mark's, the Rector replied as follows:

The Rectory,

Wych-on-the-Wold,

Oxon.

June 29th.

My dear Mark,

I cannot say frankly that I approve of your monastic scheme. I
should have liked an opportunity to talk it over with you first of
all, and I cannot congratulate you on your good manners in going
off like that without any word. Although you are technically
independent now, I think it would be a great mistake to sink your
small capital of L500 in the Order of St. George, and you can't
very well make use of them to pass the next two or three years
without contributing anything.

The other objection to your scheme is that you may not get taken at
Glastonbury. In any case the Glastonbury people will give the
preference to Varsity men, and I'm not sure that they would be very
keen on having an ex-monk. However, as I said, you are independent
now and can choose yourself what you do. Meanwhile, I suppose it is
possible that Burrowes may decide you have no vocation, in which
case I hope you'll give up your monastic ambitions and come back
here.

Yours affectionately,

Stephen Ogilvie.

Mark who had been growing bored in the guest-room of Malford Abbey
nearly said farewell to it for ever when he received the Rector's
letter. His old friend and guardian was evidently wounded by his
behaviour, and Mark considering what he owed him felt that he ought to
abandon his monastic ambitions if by doing so he could repay the Rector
some of his kindness. His hand was on the bell that should summon the
guest-brother (when the bell was working and the guest-brother was not)
in order to tell him that he had been ca