om which had once served for espial-chamber, but was now curtained
cosily and spread for dessert.

"By the way, Master," said the Bishop, suddenly remembering the
Petition in his pocket, and laughing amicably as he dropped a lump of
sugar into his coffee, "what games have you been playing in St.
Hospital, that they accuse you of Romanising?"

The Master's ivory face flushed at the question.

"That was old Warboise," he answered nervously. "I must apologise
for the annoyance."

"Not at all--not at all! It amused me, rather, to be reminded that,
as Visitor, I am a person in St. Hospital, and still reckoned an
important one. 'Made me feel like an image in a niche subjected to a
sudden dusting. Who is this--er, what-d'-ye-call-him? Warboise?
An eccentric?"

"I will not say that. Old and opinionated, rather; a militant
Protestant--"

"Ah, we know the sort. Shall we glance over his screed? You permit
me?"

"I was about to suggest your doing so. To tell the truth, I am
curious to be acquainted with the charge against me."

The Bishop smiled, drew forth the paper from his pocket adjusted his
gold-rimmed eyeglasses and read--

"To the Right Rev. Father in God, Walter, Lord Bishop of
Merchester.

"My Lord,--We the undersigned, being Brethren on the
Blanchminster and Beauchamp foundations of St. Hospital's
College of Noble Poverty by Merton, respectfully desire your
lordship's attention to certain abuses which of late have crept
into this Society; and particularly in the observances of
religion.

"We contend (1) that, whereas our Reformed and Protestant Church,
in Number XXII of her Articles of Religion declares the Romish
doctrine of purgatory inter alia to be a fond thing vainly
invented, etc., and repugnant to the Word of God, yet prayers
for the dead have twice been publicly offered in our Chapel and
the practice defended, nay recommended, from its pulpit.

"(2) That, whereas in Number XXVIII of the same Articles the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is defined in intention, and the
definition expressly cleared to repudiate several practices not
consonant with it, certain of these have been observed of late
in our Chapel, to the scandal of the Church, and to the pain and
uneasiness of souls that were used to draw pure refreshment from
these Sacraments--"

The Bishop paused.

"I say, Master, this Broth