brose was horrified at the stave that met his ears, and asked how such
profanity could be allowed. Tibble shrugged his shoulders, and cited
the old saying, "The nearer the church,"--adding, "Truth hath a voice,
and will out."

"But surely this is not the truth?"

"'Tis mighty like it, sir, though it might be spoken in a more seemly
fashion."

"What's this?" demanded Ambrose. "'Tis a noble house."

"That's the Bishop's palace, sir--a man that hath much to answer for."

"Liveth he so ill a life then?"

"Not so. He is no scandalous liver, but he would fain stifle all the
voices that call for better things. Ay, you look back at yon ballad-
monger! Great folk despise the like of him, never guessing at the power
there may be in such ribald stuff; while they would fain silence that
which might turn men from their evil ways while yet there is time."

Tibble muttered this to himself, unheeded by Ambrose, and then presently
crossing the churchyard, where a grave was being filled up, with
numerous idle children around it, he conducted the youth into a curious
little chapel, empty now, but with the Host enthroned above the altar,
and the trestles on which the bier had rested still standing in the
narrow nave.

It was intensely still and cool, a fit place indeed for Ambrose's filial
devotions, while Tibble settled himself on the step, took out a little
black book, and became absorbed. Ambrose's Latin scholarship enabled
him to comprehend the language of the round of devotions he was
rehearsing for the benefit of his father's soul; but there was much
repetition in them, and he had been so trained as to believe their
correct recital was much more important than attention to their spirit,
and thus, while his hands held his rosary, his eyes were fixed upon the
walls where was depicted the Dance of Death. In terrible repetition,
the artist had aimed at depicting every rank or class in life as alike
the prey of the grisly phantom. Triple-crowned pope, scarlet-hatted
cardinal, mitred prelate, priests, monks, and friars of every degree;
emperors, kings, princes, nobles, knights, squires, yeomen, every sort
of trade, soldiers of all kinds, beggars, even thieves and murderers,
and, in like manner, ladies of every degree, from the queen and the
abbess, down to the starving beggar, were each represented as grappled
with, and carried off by the crowned skeleton. There was no truckling
to greatness. The bishop and abbot writhed