E-text prepared by Lionel Sear BROTHER COPAS by ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH. 1911 TO THE GENTLE READER. In a former book of mine, _Sir John Constantine_, I expressed (perhaps extravagantly) my faith in my fellows and in their capacity to treat life as a noble sport. In _Brother Copas_ I try to express something of that corellative scorn which must come sooner or later to every man who puts his faith into practice.. I have that faith still; but that "He who would love his fellow men Must not expect too much of them" is good counsel if bad rhyme. I can only hope that both the faith and the scorn are sound at the core. For the rest, I wish to state that St. Hospital is a society which never existed. I have borrowed for it certain features from the Hospital of St. Cross, near Winchester. I have invented a few external and all the internal ones. My "College of Noble Poverty" harbours abuses from which, I dare to say, that nobler institution is entirely free. St Hospital has no existence at all outside of my imagining. ARTHUR QUILLER-COUCH. The Haven, Fowey. February 16th, 1911. "And a little Child shall lead them."--ISAIAH xi. 6. CONTENTS. Chapter I. THE MASTER OF ST. HOSPITAL. II. THE COLLEGE OF NOBLE POVERTY. III. BROTHER COPAS HOOKS A FISH. IV. CORONA COMES. V. BROTHER COPAS ON RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES. VI. GAUDY DAY. VII. LOW AND HIGH TABLES. VIII. A PEACE-OFFERING. IX. BY MERE RIVER. X. THE ANONYMOUS LETTER. XI. BROTHER COPAS ON THE ANGLO-SAXON. XII. MR. ISIDORE TAKES CHARGE. XIII. GARDEN AND LAUNDRY. XIV. BROTHER COPAS ON THE HOUSE OF LORDS. XV. CANARIES AND GREATCOATS. XVI. THE SECOND LETTER. XVII. PUPPETS. XVIII. THE PERVIGILIUM. XVIX. MERCHESTER PREPARES. XX. NAUGHTINESS, AND A SEQUEL. XXI. RECONCILIATION. XXII. MR. SIMEON MAKES A CLEAN BREAST. XXIII. CORONA'S BIRTHDAY. XXIV. FINIS CORONAT OPUS. CONCLUSION. BROTHER COPAS. CHAPTER I. THE MASTER OF ST. HOSPITAL. 'As poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things . . .'