CHAPTER XXIV.
FINIS CORONAT OPUS.
The great day dawned at last: the day to which all Merchester had looked forward for months, for which so many hundreds had been working, on which all must now pin their hopes: the opening day of Pageant Week.
I suppose that never in Merchester's long history had her citizens so frequently or so nervously studied their weather-glasses.
"Tarbolt, of all people!" murmured Brother Copas one afternoon in the Venables Free Library.
He had just met the Canon coming down the stairs, and turned to watch the retreating figure to the doorway.
"I am suffering from a severe shock," he announced five minutes later to Mr.Simeon, whom he found at work in Paradise.

"Did you ever know your friend Tarbolt patronise this institution before ?" "Never," answered Mr.Simeon, flushing.
"Well, I met him on the stairs just now.

For a moment I knew not which alternative to choose--whether your desertion had driven him to the extreme course of reading a book or two for himself, or he had come desperately in search of you to promise that if you returned, all should be forgiven.

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