ate-paupers," corrected his brother. "Private paupers, like the
Brethren of St. Hospital, rank as tenants of their living-rooms."

"I shall never gombrehend the institutions of zis country," groaned
Mr. Isidore.

"Never mind: make a Pageant of 'em," said his brother grimly.
"I'll forgive you this time, if you'll promise me to be more
careful."

"I'll do more, Julius. I'll get aroundt ze old boy somehow: mek him
bivot-man in a brocession, or something of the sort. I got any
amount of tagt, once I know where to use it."

"Smart man, Our Member!" commented Mr. Colt, gazing after the pair.
"And Mr. Isidore doesn't let the grass grow under his feet, hey?"

"Has an eye for detail, too," answered Brother Copas, taking snuff.
"See him there, upbraiding his brother for want of tact towards a
free and independent elector. . . . But--excuse me--for what purpose
are these two parcelling out the Castle Meadow?"

"You've not heard? There's a suggestion--and I may claim some share
in the credit of it, if credit there be--to hold a Pageant here next
summer, a Merchester Pageant. Mr. Bamberger's full of it.
What's your idea?"

"A capital notion," said Brother Copas slowly. "Since _jam pridem
Syrus in Tamesin defluxit Orontes_, I commend any attempt to educate
Mr. Bamberger and his tribe in the history of this England they
invade. But, as you say, this proposed Pageant is news to me.
I never seem to hear any gossip. It had not even reached me, Mr.
Chaplain, that you were deserting St. Hospital to embrace a military
career."

"Nor am I. . . . At Cambridge I ever was an ardent volunteer.
Here in Merchester (though this, too, may be news to you) I have for
years identified myself with all movements in support of national
defence. The Church Lads' Brigade, I may say, owed its inception to
me; likewise the Young Communicants' Miniature Rifle Association; and
for three successive years our Merchester Boy Scouts have elected me
President and Scoutmaster. It has been a dream of my life, Brother
Copas, to link up the youth of Britain in preparation to defend the
Motherland, pending that system of compulsory National Service which
(we all know) must eventually come. And so when Sir John
Shaftesbury, as Chairman of our County Territorial Force Association,
spoke to the Lord-Lieutenant, who invited me to accept a majority in
the Mershire Light Infantry, Second Battalion, Territorial--"

"I can well understand, sir," said B