Brother Copas

fum! bubbl

rsday's the fa

dy to be carved and distributed. For save on Gaudy Days and great festivals of the Church, the Brethren dine in their own chambers, not in Hall; and on three days of the week must fend for themselves on food purchased out of th

o the Book of Common Prayer, with the names of the Brethren inserted on movable cards worn greasy with handling. In system nothing could be fairer; but in

choose! Brother Cl

out of my ribs-don't I know the old trick? And stop pushing-you behind there!... 'Rats in a hamper, swine in a sty, wasps in a bot

t pretend to ha' been a gentleman! I reckon, if indecency's the

adies have no right here: it's clean against the

an to insi

which at this moment you debar me. Ah!" exclaimed Brother Copas as the cook whipped off t

Roast leg of mutton, boiled neck and scrag of mutton-aha! You shall give me a cut o

mutton was the tit-bit dearest of all to his heart, as Brother Copas knew. Brother Biscoe also ha

t'll choke ye

iably, "on Monday last you he

nd swung round. "Are we all to get cold dinner

ung about. "Here's Copas has brought two plates! Isn't

t that he ought to

cond plate is for Brother Bonaday's dinner, when his turn arriv

er voice rising shrill above the din. "Oh

laughter to him quite meaningless. It was plain that all sha

o St. Hospital-'when they're not wanted,' did I hear you say, sir? Yes, 'a scandal' he said, and 'indecent'; whic

tion of mutton and drew aside, vanquished amid peals of laughter, of which he guessed only from its note that the allusion had been disgusting. Indeed, the whole atmosphere of the kitchen sickened him; even the portion of mutton cool

him, and those at the back of the crowd had found a new diversion in hustling

ed the pork and bid emulously for mutton, roast or boiled. He knew that Brother Bonaday abhorred pork, which, moreover, was indigestible, and by consequence bad for a weak h

n came immediately before Brother Bonaday's, seemed to doubt that enough of the scrag remained to eke out a full portion; and bent towards

ance over his shoulder. The cause of it was Nurse Branscome, entering by

though the ribaldry took her in

to fetch Brother Bonaday's dinner. U

g over his shoulder while his right hand extended the pla

almost dead silence; for the laughter had died down

ll be cold. Here,

ht upon! Wa

withdraw the plate a dollop o

wait-lo

scrag. The meat on the plate was pork, and the dish of scrag was empty. B

tled Brother Biscoe as he fought his way to the foot of the refectory steps, at the head of

t all about?"

have courage. "We have come too late, and the dinner is a

you please, sir," she spoke up, planting her small body in front of Brother Biscoe as he would have pushed past with his plate,

interruption of his escape, was snatching back the food, ready to curse her, when Brother

late in his left hand. "Bonaday can have

slowly. "I am sorry. You are good and will be disappointe

two best cutlets at the bottom of the neck. And, what's more, he'll be only

d a moment between hate and greed, and snatched the cut

of thanks. Nurse Branscome stayed but a moment to thank Brother Copas for his cle

er Copas eyeing

o: a man must protect himself. I'll