按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thinking it then〃is that the quire ought to be gie'd a little
time； and not done away wi' till Christmas； as a fair thing between
man and man。 And； Mr。 Mayble； I hope you'll excuse my common way？〃
〃I will； I will。 Till Christmas；〃 the vicar murmured； stretching
the two words to a great length； as if the distance to Christmas
might be measured in that way。 〃Well； I want you all to understand
that I have no personal fault to find； and that I don't wish to
change the church music by forcible means； or in a way which should
hurt the feelings of any parishioners。 Why I have at last spoken
definitely on the subject is that a player has been brought underI
may say pressed uponmy notice several times by one of the
churchwardens。 And as the organ I brought with me is here waiting〃
（pointing to a cabinet…organ standing in the study）； 〃there is no
reason for longer delay。〃
〃We made a mistake I suppose then； sir？ But we understood the young
woman didn't want to play particularly？〃 The tranter arranged his
countenance to signify that he did not want to be inquisitive in the
least。
〃No； nor did she。 Nor did I definitely wish her to just yet； for
your playing is very good。 But； as I said； one of the churchwardens
has been so anxious for a change； that； as matters stand； I couldn't
consistently refuse my consent。〃
Now for some reason or other； the vicar at this point seemed to have
an idea that he had prevaricated； and as an honest vicar； it was a
thing he determined not to do。 He corrected himself； blushing as he
did so； though why he should blush was not known to Reuben。
〃Understand me rightly；〃 he said： 〃the church…warden proposed it to
me； but I had thought myself of gettingMiss Day to play。〃
〃Which churchwarden might that be who proposed her； sir？excusing
my common way。〃 The tranter intimated by his tone that； so far from
being inquisitive； he did not even wish to ask a single question。
〃Mr。 Shiner； I believe。〃
〃Clk； my sonny！beg your pardon； sir； that's only a form of words
of mine； and slipped out accidentalhe nourishes enmity against us
for some reason or another； perhaps because we played rather hard
upon en Christmas night。 Anyhow 'tis certain sure that Mr。 Shiner's
real love for music of a particular kind isn't his reason。 He've no
more ear than that chair。 But let that be。〃
〃I don't think you should conclude that； because Mr。 Shiner wants a
different music； he has any ill…feeling for you。 I myself； I must
own； prefer organ…music to any other。 I consider it most proper；
and feel justified in endeavouring to introduce it； but then；
although other music is better； I don't say yours is not good。〃
〃Well then； Mr。 Mayble； since death's to be； we'll die like men any
day you name （excusing my common way）。〃
Mr。 Maybold bowed his head。
〃All we thought was； that for us old ancient singers to be choked
off quiet at no time in particular； as now； in the Sundays after
Easter； would seem rather mean in the eyes of other parishes； sir。
But if we fell glorious with a bit of a flourish at Christmas； we
should have a respectable end； and not dwindle away at some nameless
paltry second…Sunday…after or Sunday…next…before something； that's
got no name of his own。〃
〃Yes； yes； that's reasonable； I own it's reasonable。〃
〃You see； Mr。 Mayble； we've gotdo I keep you inconvenient long；
sir？〃
〃No； no。〃
〃We've got our feelingsfather there especially。〃
The tranter； in his earnestness； had advanced his person to within
six inches of the vicar's。
〃Certainly； certainly！〃 said Mr。 Maybold； retreating a little for
convenience of seeing。 〃You are all enthusiastic on the subject；
and I am all the more gratified to find you so。 A Laodicean
lukewarmness is worse than wrongheadedness itself。〃
〃Exactly； sir。 In fact now； Mr。 Mayble；〃 Reuben continued； more
impressively； and advancing a little closer still to the vicar；
〃father there is a perfect figure o' wonder； in the way of being
fond of music！〃
The vicar drew back a little further； the tranter suddenly also
standing back a foot or two； to throw open the view of his father；
and pointing to him at the same time。
Old William moved uneasily in the large chair； and with a minute
smile on the mere edge of his lips； for good…manners； said he was
indeed very fond of tunes。
〃Now； you see exactly how it is；〃 Reuben continued； appealing to Mr。
Maybold's sense of justice by looking sideways into his eyes。 The
vicar seemed to see how it was so well that the gratified tranter
walked up to him again with even vehement eagerness； so that his
waistcoat…buttons almost rubbed against the vicar's as he continued：
〃As to father； if you or I； or any man or woman of the present
generation； at the time music is a…playing； was to shake your fist
in father's face； as may be this way； and say； 〃Don't you be
delighted with that music！the tranter went back to where Leaf was
sitting； and held his fist so close to Leaf's face that the latter
pressed his head back against the wall： 〃All right； Leaf； my sonny；
I won't hurt you； 'tis just to show my meaning to Mr。 Mayble。As I
was saying； if you or I； or any man； was to shake your fist in
father's face this way； and say； 〃William； your life or your music！〃
he'd say； 〃My life！〃 Now that's father's nature all over； and you
see； sir； it must hurt the feelings of a man of that kind for him
and his bass…viol to be done away wi' neck and crop。〃
The tranter went back to the vicar's front and again looked
earnestly at his face。
〃True； true； Dewy；〃 Mr。 Maybold answered； trying to withdraw his
head and shoulders without moving his feet； but finding this
impracticable； edging back another inch。 These frequent retreats
had at last jammed Mr。 Maybold between his easy…chair and the edge
of the table。
And at the moment of the announcement of the choir； Mr。 Maybold had
just re…dipped the pen he was using； at their entry； instead of
wiping it； he had laid it on the table with the nib overhanging。 At
the last retreat his coat…tails came in contact with the pen； and
down it rolled； first against the back of the chair； thence turning
a summersault into the seat； thence falling to the floor with a
rattle。
The vicar stooped for his pen； and the tranter； wishing to show
that； however great their ecclesiastical differences； his mind was
not so small as to let this affect his social feelings； stooped
also。
〃And have you anything else you want to explain to me； Dewy？〃 said
Mr。 Maybold from under the table。
〃Nothing； sir。 And； Mr。 Mayble； you be not offended？ I hope you
see our desire is reason？〃 said the tranter from under the chair。
〃Quite； quite； and I shouldn't think of refusing to listen to such a
reasonable request；〃 the vicar replied。 Seeing that Reuben had
secured the pen； he resumed his vertical position； and added； 〃You
know； Dewy； it is