oked altogether as dignified as might have been
desired. Still he managed to ape with tolerable accuracy the movements
and mode of proceeding of a full-grown bishop. One thing might truly be
said, that had he played many strange antics, he would scarcely have
out-done Bishop Bonner, albeit such a remark would have been dangerous
to make at that time. The boys of the school were arranged, as has been
said, in their seats, when the bishop, ascending the pulpit, and with
crozier in hand, delivered his address. His companions now and then
made signs to him which betokened no great amount of respect. As the
boys of Saint Paul's School, however, had the eyes of their masters
fixed on them, they behaved with sufficient decorum. A'Dale, however,
who disliked such mummeries as much as did Ernst, did not altogether
keep his countenance. He was in sight of the altar, where the priest
was about to perform the high mass. That ceremony was gone through in
the usual way, both A'Dale and Ernst, and some others may be, chafing
not a little at being obliged to be present at it. Ernst's quick sight
had detected the eyes of the priest fixed on him and A'Dale. He
whispered to his companion.

"Yes, possibly we are marked," answered A'Dale; "but the priest can do
us little harm, I should think; and at all events we must brave it out."
The two boys, it must be owned, took little pains to conceal their
feelings. Before leaving the church each boy of the school had to take
up one penny, and present it to the Boy Bishop for his maintenance, and
thus every year he collected a goodly number of pennies. It may be
remarked that the Boy Bishop was chosen by the other choristers to
officiate from Saint Nicholas Day to the evening of Innocents' Day.
Should he die during that period, he was always buried in the habit of a
bishop. The following day Ernst and A'Dale saw, not without some
anxiety, the priest who had been officiating at the altar enter the
school. After speaking with the head master, he cast his eyes round the
classes and pointed to A'Dale and Ernst.

"Some harm will come out of this," they thought; but they wisely said
nothing. Again the priest consulted with the head master, who seemed to
be expostulating with him, and finally took his departure, casting a
frowning glance on the two boys. Having reached the door he turned
round, as if to watch what the head master would do. Dr Freeman on
this called up A'Dale and Ernst, a