lodgings, not ten paces
distant from the steps of the Hundred Men's Hall. The three paused,
just outside--the Nurse and Corona to await the procession of
Visitors, due now at any moment. Brother Bonaday stood and blinked
in the strong sunlight: but the child, catching sight of Brother
Copas as he left Brother Biscoe and hurried towards her, ran to meet
him with a friendly nod.

"I've come out to watch the procession," she announced. "That's all
we women are allowed; while you--Branny says there's to be ducks and
green peas! Did you know that?"

"Surely you must have observed my elation?"

Brother Copas stood and smiled at her, leaning on his staff.

"The Bishop wears gaiters they tell me; and the Master too. I saw
them coming out of Chapel in their surplices, and the Chaplain with
the Bishop's staff: but Branny wouldn't let me go to the service.
She said I must be tired after my journey. So I went to the lodge
instead and made friends with Brother Manby. I didn't," said Corona
candidly, "make very good weather with Brother Manby, just at first.
He began by asking 'Well, and oo's child might _you_ be?'--and when
I told him, he said, 'Ow's anyone to know _that_?' That amused me,
of course."

"Did it?" asked Brother Copas in slight astonishment.

"Because," the child explained, "I'd been told that English people
dropped their h's; but Brother Manby was the first I'd heard doing
it, and it seemed too good to be true. _You_ don't drop your h's;
and nor does Daddy, nor Branny."

Brother Copas chuckled.

"Don't reproach us," he pleaded. "You see, you've taken us at
unawares more or less. But if it really please you--"

"You are very kind," Corona put in; "but I guess that sort of thing
must come naturally, to be any good. You can't think how naturally
Brother Manby went on dropping them; till by and by he told me what a
mort of Americans came here to have a look around. Then, of course,
I saw how he must strike them as the real thing."

Brother Copas under lowered eyebrows regarded the young face. It was
innocent and entirely serious.

"So I said," she went on, "that I came from America too, and it was a
long way, and please would he hurry up with the bread and beer?
After that we made friends, and I had a good time."

"Are you telling me that you spent the forenoon drinking beer in the
porter's lodge?"

Corona's laugh was like the bubbling of water in a hidden well.

"It wasn't what you migh