Had he ever been tyrannical, harsh, unsympathetic even, that instead of coming to him as to their father and Master they should have put this public affront on him and appealed straight away to the Bishop?
To be sure, the Statutes provided that the Bishop of Merchester, as Visitor, had power to inquire into the administration of St.Hospital and to remedy abuses.

But everyone knew that within living memory, and for a hundred years before, this power had never been invoked.

Doubtless these malcontents, whoever they might be--and it disquieted Master Blanchminster yet further that he could not guess as yet who they were or how many--had kept to the letter of their rights.

But good Heaven! had _he_ in all these years interpreted his rule by the letter, and not rather and constantly by the spirit?
Brother Copas was right.

Warboise's action had been inopportune, offensive, needlessly hurting a kindly heart.