for putting the question. He had been to the masons, too, who are
repairing the cathedral; and they declared to the master, one and all,
that they had not been into the vestry yesterday, or even round to that
side of the college where the vestry is situated."

"Why should the master take it up so pertinaciously?" wondered Roland
Yorke.

"I'm sure I don't know, sir. He was like one in a fever, so excited
over it, Harper said."

"Did he talk to you about it, Jenkins?" asked Mr. Galloway.

"I did not see him, sir; it was Harper told me afterwards," was the
reply of Jenkins, as he subsided to his writing again.

Just at this juncture, who should come in view of the window but the
head-master himself. He was passing it with a quick step, when out flew
Mr. Galloway, and caught him by the button. Roland Yorke, who was ever
glad of a pretext for idleness, rose from his stool, and pushed his
nose close up to the nearest pane, to listen to any colloquy that might
ensue; but, the window being open, he might have heard without leaving
his seat.

"I hear the boys have not a holiday to-day, Pye," began Mr. Galloway.

"No, that they have not," emphatically pronounced the master; "and, if
they go on as they seem to be going on now, I'll keep them without it
for a twelvemonth. I believe the inking of that surplice was a
concocted plan, look you, Galloway, to--"