om above, seeming to welcome the dawning
day and the joyous season of sunshine and love.

"That must surely be Stephen Radley," spoke Freda in a whisper, as
one voice, more rich and mellow than the others, seemed to detach
itself and float upwards in a flood of melody. All eyes were fixed
aloft, all ears strained to catch the sounds. The power and
extraordinary sweetness of the voice held the multitude spellbound.

"The cardinal's new singing man!" was the whisper passed from mouth
to mouth; and when at length the singers emerged from the little
door at the base of the tower, there were many who crowded round
Radley to compliment him upon his wonderful performance.

It was quite a long time before the sisters caught sight of him,
and then he was walking arm-in-arm with Master Clarke, who,
catching sight of the little group, brought him straight up to them
and presented him.

Radley was dressed in academic garb, like all the members of the
university. He looked about five-and-twenty years old, was a tall
and finely proportioned man, deep chested and muscular, with a
gravely deferential manner that was pleasing and modest.

Arthur Cole and Anthony Dalaber came hastening up to join the
group, and presently it broke up somewhat, and thus Magdalen found
herself walking towards home with Clarke, whilst the others
followed as they chose, having been asked by Dr. Langton to partake
of a cold collation at his house, which had been carefully spread
overnight by the hands of the girls themselves.

"He has a wonderful voice," said Magdalen, with a slight backward
glance over her shoulder towards Radley; "who is he, and whence
does he come?"

"He sang as a boy in one of those grammar schools which the
cardinal is now interesting himself so much to promote. But when he
lost his boy's voice he was not able to remain at the school, and
has since been a servant in several great houses. He obtained a
position in the cardinal's house last year, and it was there that
the great man heard him singing over his work, and had him brought
before him. Finding that he had some learning, and was eager for
more, he decided to appoint him as singing man at his own college
here, and to let him continue his studies as well. I trow that he
would have willingly made him one of the petty canons, but Radley
declined that honour. He has no call to the priesthood, he says;
and in truth he has heard much in London of the Association of
Christian Bro