Hefoundthelittlematroninherroomindeepmourning；shookherhand，triedtotalk，andmovednervouslyabout。Shewasevidentlythinkingofthesamesubjectashe，buthecouldn’tbegintalking。
　　“WhereshallIfindThomas？“saidheatlast，gettingdesperate。
　　“Intheservants’hall，Ithink，sir。Butwon’tyoutakeanything？“saidthematron，lookingratherdisappointed。
　　“No，thankyou，“saidhe，andstrodeoffagaintofindtheoldverger，whowassittinginhislittleden，asofold，puzzlingoverhieroglyphics。
　　HelookedupthroughhisspectaclesasTomseizedhishandandwrungit。
　　“Ah！you’veheardallaboutit，sir，Isee，“saidhe。Tomnodded，andthensatdownontheshoe-board，whiletheoldmantoldhistale，andwipedhisspectacles，andfairlyflowedoverwithquaint，homely，honestsorrow。
　　BythetimehehaddoneTomfeltmuchbetter。
　　“Whereisheburied，Thomas？“saidheatlast。
　　“Underthealtarinthechapel，sir，“answeredThomas。“You’dliketohavethekey，Idaresay？“
　　“Thankyou，Thomas——yes，Ishould，verymuch。“
　　Andtheoldmanfumbledamonghisbunch，andthengotup，asthoughhewouldgowithhim；butafterafewstepsstoppedshort，andsaid，“Perhapsyou’dliketogobyyourself，sir？“
　　Tomnodded，andthebunchofkeyswerehandedtohim，withaninjunctiontobesureandlockthedoorafterhim，andbringthembackbeforeeighto’clock。
　　Hewalkedquicklythroughthequadrangleandoutintotheclose。
　　Thelongingwhichhadbeenuponhimanddrivenhimthusfar，likethegad-flyintheGreeklegends，givinghimnorestinmindorbody，seemedallofasuddennottobesatisfied，buttoshrivelupandpall。“WhyshouldIgoon？It’snouse，“hethought，andthrewhimselfatfulllengthontheturf，andlookedvaguelyandlistlesslyatallthewell-knownobjects。
　　Therewereafewofthetownboysplayingcricket，theirwicketpitchedonthebestpieceinthemiddleofthebig-sideground——
　　asinaboutequaltosacrilegeintheeyesofacaptainoftheeleven。Hewasverynearlygettinguptogoandsendthemoff。
　　“Pshaw！theywon’trememberme。They’vemorerighttherethanI，“hemuttered。Andthethoughtthathissceptrehaddeparted，andhismarkwaswearingout，camehometohimforthefirsttime，andbitterlyenough。Hewaslyingontheveryspotwherethefightscameoff——wherehehimselfhadfoughtsixyearsagohisfirstandlastbattle。Heconjuredupthescenetillhecouldalmostheartheshoutsofthering，andEast’swhisperinhisear；andlookingacrosstheclosetotheDoctor’sprivatedoor，halfexpectedtoseeitopen，andthetallfigureincapandgowncomestridingundertheelm-treestowardshim。
　　No，no；thatsightcouldneverbeseenagain。Therewasnoflagflyingontheroundtower；theSchool-housewindowswereallshutteredup；andwhentheflagwentupagain，andtheshutterscamedown，itwouldbetowelcomeastranger。Allthatwasleftonearthofhimwhomhehadhonouredwaslyingcoldandstillunderthechapelfloor。Hewouldgoinandseetheplaceoncemore，andthenleaveitonceforall。Newmenandnewmethodsmightdoforotherpeople；letthosewhowould，worshiptherisingstar；he，atleast，wouldbefaithfultothesunwhichhadset。Andsohegotup，andwalkedtothechapeldoor，andunlockedit，fancyinghimselftheonlymournerinallthebroadland，andfeedingonhisownselfishsorrow。
　　Hepassedthroughthevestibule，andthenpausedforamomenttoglanceovertheemptybenches。Hisheartwasstillproudandhigh，andhewalkeduptotheseatwhichhehadlastoccupiedasasixth-formboy，andsathimselfdowntheretocollecthisthoughts。
　　And，truthtotell，theyneededcollectingandsettinginordernotalittle。Thememoriesofeightyearswerealldancingthroughhisbrain，andcarryinghimaboutwhithertheywould；
　　while，beneaththemall，hisheartwasthrobbingwiththedullsenseofalossthatcouldneverbemadeuptohim。Theraysoftheeveningsuncamesolemnlythroughthepaintedwindowsabovehishead，andfellingorgeouscoloursontheoppositewall，andtheperfectstillnesssoothedhisspiritbylittleandlittle。
　　Andheturnedtothepulpit，andlookedatit，andthen，leaningforwardwithhisheadonhishands，groanedaloud。IfhecouldonlyhaveseentheDoctoragainforonefiveminutes——havetoldhimallthatwasinhisheart，whatheowedtohim，howhelovedandreverencedhim，andwould，byGod’shelp，followhisstepsinlifeanddeath——hecouldhaveborneitallwithoutamurmur。
　　Butthatheshouldhavegoneawayforeverwithoutknowingitall，wastoomuchtobear。“ButamIsurethathedoesnotknowitall？“Thethoughtmadehimstart。“Mayhenotevennowbenearme，inthisverychapel？Ifhebe，amIsorrowingashewouldhavemesorrow，asIshouldwishtohavesorrowedwhenI
　　shallmeethimagain？“
　　Heraisedhimselfupandlookedround，andafteraminuteroseandwalkedhumblydowntothelowestbench，andsatdownontheveryseatwhichhehadoccupiedonhisfirstSundayatRugby。
　　Andthentheoldmemoriesrushedbackagain，butsoftenedandsubdued，andsoothinghimashelethimselfbecarriedawaybythem。Andhelookedupatthegreatpaintedwindowabovethealtar，andrememberedhow，whenalittleboy，heusedtotrynottolookthroughitattheelm-treesandtherooks，beforethepaintedglasscame；andthesubscriptionforthepaintedglass，andtheletterhewrotehomeformoneytogivetoit。Andthere，downbelow，wastheverynameoftheboywhosatonhisrighthandonthatfirstday，scratchedrudelyintheoakpanelling。
　　Andthencamethethoughtofallhisoldschoolfellows；andformafterformofboysnobler，andbraver，andpurerthanheroseupandseemedtorebukehim。Couldhenotthinkofthem，andwhattheyhadfeltandwerefeeling——theywhohadhonouredandlovedfromthefirstthemanwhomhehadtakenyearstoknowandlove？
　　Couldhenotthinkofthoseyetdearertohimwhowasgone，whoborehisnameandsharedhisblood，andwerenowwithoutahusbandorafather？Thenthegriefwhichhebegantosharewithothersbecamegentleandholy，andheroseuponcemore，andwalkedupthestepstothealtar，andwhilethetearsflowedfreelydownhischeeks，kneltdownhumblyandhopefully，tolaydowntherehisshareofaburdenwhichhadproveditselftooheavyforhimtobearinhisownstrength。
　　Hereletusleavehim。Wherebettercouldweleavehimthanatthealtarbeforewhichhehadfirstcaughtaglimpseofthegloryofhisbirthright，andfeltthedrawingofthebondwhichlinksalllivingsoulstogetherinonebrotherhood——atthegravebeneaththealtarofhimwhohadopenedhiseyestoseethatglory，andsoftenedhishearttillitcouldfeelthatbond？
　　Andletusnotbehardonhim，ifatthatmomenthissoulisfullerofthetombandhimwholiestherethanofthealtarandHimofwhomitspeaks。Suchstageshavetobegonethrough，I
　　believe，byallyoungandbravesouls，whomustwintheirwaythroughhero-worshiptotheworshipofHimwhoistheKingandLordofheroes。Foritisonlythroughourmysterioushumanrelationships——throughtheloveandtendernessandpurityofmothersandsistersandwives，throughthestrengthandcourageandwisdomoffathersandbrothersandteachers——thatwecancometotheknowledgeofHiminwhomalonethelove，andthetenderness，andthepurity，andthestrength，andthecourage，andthewisdomofallthesedwellforeverandeverinperfectfullness。
　　End