The Inked Surplice



7



by the choristers. The school-room, once the large
refectory of the monks in monkish days, was on the
opposite side of the cloisters; a large, large room,
which you gained by steps, and whose high windows
were many feet from the ground. Could you have
climbed to those windows and looked from them, you
would have beheld a fair scene. A clear river wound
under the cathedral walls; beyond its green banks
were greener meadows, stretching out in the dis-
tance; far-famed hills, beautiful to look at, bounded
the horizon.  Close by were the prebendal houses:
some built of red stone, some covered with ivy,
all venerable with age; pleasant gardens surrounded
most of them, and dark old elms towered aloft,
sheltering the rooks, which seemed as old as the trees.
  The king's scholars were in the school-room, cram-
ming their surplices into bags, or preparing to walk
home with them thrown upon their arms, and making
enough hubbub to alarm the rooks. It dropped to a
dead calm at sight of the master. On holidays-and
this was one-it was not usual for the masters to
enter the school after service. The school was founded
by royal charter-its number limited to forty boys,
who were called king's scholars, ten of whom, those
whose voices were the best, were chosen choristers.
The master marched to his desk, and made a sign
for the boys to approach, addressing himself to the
senior boy.
  " Gaunt, some mischief has been done in the vestry,
touching Bywater's surplice. Do you know anything
of it"
  " No, sir," was the prompt answer. And Gaunt
was one who scorned to tell a lie.
  The master ranged his eyes round the circle. " Who
does"
  There was no reply. The boys looked at one another,
a sort of stolid surprise for the most part predominat-
ing. Mr. Pye resumed:-
  " Bywater tells me that he left his clean surplice in
the vestry this morning. This afternoon it was found
thrown behind the screen, tumbled together, beyond
all doubt purposely, and partially covered with ink. I
ask, who has done this"