As for the leg, it had speedily been cleaned to the bone.
At the last moment a ray of hope shot up, as an expiring candle flames in the socket.

Brother Inchbald--a notoriously stingy man-- whose turn came immediately before Brother Bonaday's, seemed to doubt that enough of the scrag remained to eke out a full portion; and bent towards the dish of pork, fingering his chin.

Copas seized the moment to push his empty plate towards the mutton, stealthily, as one forces a card.
As he did so, another roar of laughter--coarser than before--drew him to glance over his shoulder.

The cause of it was Nurse Branscome, entering by way of the refectory, with a hot plate held in a napkin between her hands.
She paused on the threshold, as though the ribaldry took her in the face like a blast of hot wind.
"Oh, I am late!" she cried.

"I came to fetch Brother Bonaday's dinner.