rew more and more fractious,
unruly. Miss Champernowne chid them in vain. The schoolroom, in
fact, was a small pandemonium, when of a sudden the door opened and
two visitors entered--Mr. Colt and Mr. Isidore Bamberger.

"A--ach so!" intoned Mr. Isidore, and at the sound of his appalling
guttural Babel hushed itself, unable to compete. He inquired what
was going forward; was told; and within five minutes had the children
moving through their parts in perfect discipline, while with a fire
of cross-questions he shook Mr. Simeon back to his senses and rapidly
gathered the outline of the play. He terrified all.

"Bardon my interference, ma'am!" he barked, addressing Miss
Champernowne. "I haf a burbose."

The scene engaging the children was that of the youthful
St. Meriadoc's first school-going; where his parents (Duke and
Duchess of Brittany) call with him upon a pedagogue, who introduces
him to the boys and girls, his fellow scholars. For a sample of
Mr. Simeon's version--

Pedagogue--

"Children look on your books.
If there be any whispering
It will be great hindering,
And there will be knocks."

First Scholar (_chants_)--

"God bless A, Band C!
The rest of the song is D:
That is all my lore.
I came late yesterday,
I played truant by my fay!
I am a foul sinner.
Good master, after dinner
I will learn more."

Second Scholar--

"E, s, t, that is _est_,
I know not what comes next--"

Whilst the scholars recited thus, St. Meriadoc's father and mother--
each with a train of attendants--walked up and down between the ranks
'high and disposedly,' as became a Duke and Duchess of Brittany.

Mr. Isidore of a sudden threw all into confusion again. He shot out
a forefinger and screamed--yes, positively screamed--

"Ach! zat is ze child--ze fourt' from ze end! I will haf her and no
ozzer--you onderstandt?" Here he swung about upon the Chaplain.
"Ob-serf how she walk! how she carry her chin! If I haf not her for
ze May Queen I will haf non. . . . Step vorwards, liddle one.
Whad is your name?"

"Corona."

Seeing that Mr. Isidore's finger pointed at her, she stepped forward,
with a touch of defiance in her astonishment, but fearlessly.
The touch of defiance helped to tilt her chin at the angle he so much
admired.

"Cohrona--zat must mean ze chrowned one. Cabita