usts, balances, has started an internecine
conflict, stone warring against stone, the whole disintegrating--"

"Excuse me, Brother--"

"Copas, my lord."

"Excuse me, Brother Copas," said the Bishop with a smile, "if I do
not quite see to what practical conclusion we are tending."

"There is a moral ahead, my lord. . . . Thanks to Mr. Colt's zeal, we
have all begun to aspire along our different lines, with the result
that St. Hospital has become a house divided against itself. Now, if
I may say it modestly, _I_ think your lordship's suggestion an
excellent one. We are old poor men--what business have we, any
longer, with aspiration? It is time for us to cease from pushing and
thrusting at each other's souls; time for us to imitate the Greek
beam, and practise lying flat. . . . I vote for the truce, my lord;
and when the time comes, shall vote for extending it."

"You have so odd a way of putting it, Brother--er--Copas," his
lordship mildly expostulated, "that I hardly recognise as mine the
suggestion you are good enough to commend."

Brother Copas's eye twinkled.

"Ah, my lord! It has been the misfortune of my life to follow
Socrates humbly as a midwife of men's ideas, and be accused of
handing them back as changelings."

"You consent to the truce, at any rate?"

"No, no!" muttered old Warboise.

Copas turned a deaf ear.

"I vote for the truce," he said firmly, "provided the one condition
be understood. It is the _status quo ante_ so far as concerns us
Protestants, and covers the whole field. For example, at the
Sacrament we receive the elements in the form which life-long use has
consecrated for us, allowing the wafer to be given to those Brethren
who prefer it. Will the Master consent to this?"

Master Blanchminster was about to answer, but first (it was somewhat
pitiful to see) turned to Mr. Colt. Mr. Colt bent his head in
assent.

"That is granted," said the Master.

"Nor would we deny the use of Confession to those who find solace in
it--"

"Yes, we would," growled Brother Warboise.

"--Provided always," pursued Copas, "that its use be not thrust upon
us, nor our avoidance of it injuriously reckoned against us."

"I think," said the Master, "Brother Copas knows that on this point
he may count upon an honourable understanding."

"I do, Master. . . . Then there is this new business of compulsory
vespers at six o'clock. We wish that compulsion removed."

"Why?" snapped Mr. Colt.

"Y