restore the outcast; and this, he argued, could only be accomplished
by a widely-disseminated knowledge of God's truth, by patient,
self-denying labour in God's work, and by a devout dependence on God's
Holy Spirit.

At the conclusion of the service the head-master proceeded to the
vestry, where the minor canons, choristers, and lay-clerks kept their
surplices. Not the dean and chapter; they robed in the chapter-house:
and the king's scholars put on their surplices in the schoolroom. The
choristers followed Mr. Pye to the vestry, Bywater entering with them.
The boys grouped themselves together: they were expecting--to use their
own expression--a row.

"Bywater, what is the meaning of this conduct?" was the master's stern
demand.

"I had no surplice, sir," was Bywater's answer--a saucy-looking boy
with a red face, who had a propensity for getting into "rows," and,
consequently, into punishment.

"No surplice!" repeated Mr. Pye--for the like excuse had never been
offered by a college boy before. "What do you mean?"

"We were ordered to wear clean surplices this afternoon. I brought mine
to college this morning; I left it here in the vestry, and took the
dirty one home. Well, sir, when I came to put it on this afternoon, it
was gone."

"How could it have gone? Nonsense, sir! Who would touch your surplice?"