ity" to St. Hospital.

Even then, and for months later, he missed to recognise Corona's
share in it. What was she but a child?

"Is it true what I hear?" asked Mrs. Royle, intercepting him one day
as he carried his plate of fast-cooling meat from the kitchen.

"Probably not," said Brother Copas.

"They tell me Bonaday's daughter has been singled out among all the
school children--Greycoats and others--to be Queen of the May, or
something of the kind, in this here Pageant."

"Yes, that is a fact."

"Oh! . . . I suppose it's part of your sneering way to make little of
it. _I_ call it an honour to St. Hospital."

"The deuce you do?"

"And what's more," added Mrs. Royle, "she mustn't let us down by
appearing in rags."

"I hope we can provide against that."

"What I meant to say," the woman persisted, "was that you men don't
probably understand. If there's to be a dance, or any such caper,
she'll be lifting her skirts. Well, for the credit of St. Hospital,
I'd like to overhaul the child's under-clothing, and see that she
goes shipshape and Bristol fashion."

Brother Copas thanked her. He began to perceive that Mrs. Royle,
that detestable woman, had her good points--or, at any rate, her soft
spot.

It became embarrassing, though, when Mrs. Clerihew accosted him next
day with a precisely similar request.

"And I might mention," added Mrs. Clerihew, "that I have a lace
stomacher-frill which was gove to me by no less than the late
honourable Edith, fifth daughter of the second Baron Glantyre.
She died unmarried, previous to which she used frequently to _h_onour
me with her confidence. This being a historical occasion, I'd spare
it."

Yes; it was true. Corona was to be a Queen, among many, in the
Merchester Pageant.

It all happened through Mr. Simeon.

Mr. Simeon's children had, one and all, gone for their education to
the Greycoats' School, which lies just beyond the west end of the
Cathedral. He loved to think of them as growing up within its
shadow. . . . One Tuesday at dinner the five-year-old Agatha popped
out a question--

"Daddy, if the Cafederal fell down while we were in school, would it
fall on top of us?"

"God forbid, child. But why ask such a question?"

"Because when we went to school this morning some workpeople had dug
a hole, close by that end--quite a big pit it was. So I went near
the edge to look down, and one of the men said, 'Take care, missy, or
you'll tumble in a