Produced by Clarity, Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) THE MASTER OF ST. BENEDICT'S THE MASTER OF ST. BENEDICT'S BY ALAN St. AUBYN AUTHOR OF 'A FELLOW OF TRINITY,' 'THE JUNIOR DEAN,' 'THE OLD MAID'S SWEETHEART,' 'MODEST LITTLE SARA,' ETC. [Illustration] IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. I. London CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY 1893 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. CHAPTER PAGE I. FULL OF DAYS, RICHES, AND HONOUR 1 II. DICK'S LITTLE DAUGHTER 17 III. ONLY A FRESHER 34 IV. PAMELA GWATKIN 53 V. AFTER CHAPEL 72 VI. BEHIND THE SCREEN 88 VII. LUCY'S SECRET 102 VIII. WATTLES 113 IX. A WOMAN'S PARLIAMENT 136 X. 'THAT CONFOUNDED CUCUMBER!' 148 XI. IN THE FELLOWS' GARDEN 163 XII. AN UGLY FALL 180 XIII. SLIPPING AWAY 192 XIV. WYATT EDGELL 207 THE MASTER OF ST. BENEDICT'S CHAPTER I. FULL OF DAYS, RICHES, AND HONOUR. The Master of St. Benedict's had got as much out of life as most men. His had been a longer life than is allotted to many men--it had exceeded four score. There had been room in these eight decades for all the things that men desire: for ambition, for wealth, for the world's favour, for success--well-earned success--and for love. There had also been distinction, and the soft, delightful voice of praise had not been silent. The success and the distinction had come early in life, and the love had come late. In the nature of things it could not have come earlier. It came in time to crown the rest of the good gifts that Providence had poured into the lap of the Master of St. Benedict's. It had been his already for twenty years, and it was his still. Surely we are right in saying that he had got as much out of life as most men?