e stream of time,
embodying the great part our city played for hundreds of years in the
history of our nation--I may say of the Anglo-Saxon race."

"I shouldn't, if I were you," said Brother Copas, "not even to please
Mr. Bamberger. . . . As a matter of fact, I _had_ guessed your object
to be something of the sort," he added dryly.

"As you may suppose--and as, indeed, is but proper in Merchester--
special stress will be laid throughout on the ecclesiastical side of
the story: the influence of Mother Church, permeating and at every
turn informing our national life."

"But you said a moment ago that you were leaving out the
Reformation."

"We seek rather to illustrate the _continuity_ of her influence."

Brother Copas took snuff.

"You must not think, however," pursued the Chaplain, "that we are
giving the thing a sectarian trend. On the contrary, we are
taking great care to avoid it. Our appeal is to one and all:
to the unifying civic sense and, through that, to the patriotic.
Several prominent Nonconformists have already joined the Committee;
indeed, Alderman Chope--who, as you know, is a Baptist, but has a
remarkably fine presence--has more than half consented to impersonate
Alfred the Great. If further proof be needed, I may tell you that,
in view of the coming Pan-Anglican Conference, the Committee has
provisionally resolved to divide the proceeds (if any) between the
British and Foreign Bible Society and the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel."

"Ah!" murmured Brother Copas, maliciously quoting Falstaff.
"'It was alway yet the trick of our English nation, if they have a
good thing, to make it too common.'"

The Chaplain did not hear.

"I earnestly hope," said he, "you will let me propose you for my
Committee."

"I would not miss it for worlds," said Brother Copas gravely.

He had disjointed and packed up his rod by this time, and the two
were walking back towards St. Hospital.

"You relieve me more than I can say. Your help will be invaluable."

Brother Copas was apparently deaf to this compliment.

"You'll excuse me," he said after a moment, "but I gather that the
whole scheme must be well under weigh, since you have arrived at
allocating the proceeds. Experience tells me that all amateurs start
with wanting to act something; when they see that desire near to
realisation, and not before, they cast about for the charity which is
to deserve their efforts. . . . May I ask what part you