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secured the pen； he resumed his vertical position； and added； 〃You
know； Dewy； it is often said how difficult a matter it is to act up
to our convictions and please all parties。 It may be said with
equal truth； that it is difficult for a man of any appreciativeness
to have convictions at all。 Now in my case； I see right in you； and
right in Shiner。 I see that violins are good； and that an organ is
good； and when we introduce the organ； it will not be that fiddles
were bad； but that an organ was better。 That you'll clearly
understand； Dewy？〃
〃I will； and thank you very much for such feelings； sir。 Piph…h…h…
h！ How the blood do get into my head； to be sure； whenever I quat
down like that！〃 said Reuben； who having also risen to his feet
stuck the pen vertically in the inkstand and almost through the
bottom； that it might not roll down again under any circumstances
whatever。
Now the ancient body of minstrels in the passage felt their
curiosity surging higher and higher as the minutes passed。 Dick；
not having much affection for this errand； soon grew tired； and went
away in the direction of the school。 Yet their sense of propriety
would probably have restrained them from any attempt to discover
what was going on in the study had not the vicar's pen fallen to the
floor。 The conviction that the movement of chairs； etc。；
necessitated by the search； could only have been caused by the
catastrophe of a bloody fight beginning； overpowered all other
considerations； and they advanced to the door； which had only just
fallen to。 Thus； when Mr。 Maybold raised his eyes after the
stooping he beheld glaring through the door Mr。 Penny in full…length
portraiture； Mail's face and shoulders above Mr。 Penny's head；
Spinks's forehead and eyes over Mail's crown； and a fractional part
of Bowman's countenance under Spinks's armcrescent shaped portions
of other heads and faces being visible behind thesethe whole dozen
and odd eyes bristling with eager inquiry。
Mr。 Penny； as is the case with excitable boot…makers and men； seeing
the vicar look at him and hearing no word spoken； thought it
incumbent upon himself to say something of any kind。 Nothing
suggested itself till he had looked for about half a minute at the
vicar。
〃You'll excuse my naming of it； sir；〃 he said； regarding with much
commiseration the mere surface of the vicar's face； 〃but perhaps you
don't know that your chin have bust out a…bleeding where you cut
yourself a…shaving this morning； sir。〃
〃Now； that was the stooping； depend upon't；〃 the tranter suggested；
also looking with much interest at the vicar's chin。 〃Blood always
will bust out again if you hang down the member that's been
bleeding。〃
Old William raised his eyes and watched the vicar's bleeding chin
likewise； and Leaf advanced two or three paces from the bookcase；
absorbed in the contemplation of the same phenomenon； with parted
lips and delighted eyes。
〃Dear me； dear me！〃 said Mr。 Maybold hastily； looking very red； and
brushing his chin with his hand； then taking out his handkerchief
and wiping the place。
〃That's it； sir； all right again now； 'a b'lievea mere nothing；〃
said Mr。 Penny。 〃A little bit of fur off your hat will stop it in a
minute if it should bust out again。〃
〃I'll let 'ee have a bit off mine；〃 said Reuben； to show his good
feeling； 〃my hat isn't so new as yours； sir； and 'twon't hurt mine a
bit。〃
〃No； no； thank you； thank you；〃 Mr。 Maybold again nervously replied。
〃'Twas rather a deep cut seemingly？〃 said Reuben； feeling these to
be the kindest and best remarks he could make。
〃O； no； not particularly。〃
〃Well； sir； your hand will shake sometimes a…shaving； and just when
it comes into your head that you may cut yourself； there's the
blood。〃
〃I have been revolving in my mind that question of the time at which
we make the change；〃 said Mr。 Maybold； 〃and I know you'll meet me
half…way。 I think Christmas…day as much too late for me as the
present time is too early for you。 I suggest Michaelmas or
thereabout as a convenient time for both parties； for I think your
objection to a Sunday which has no name is not one of any real
weight。〃
〃Very good； sir。 I suppose mortal men mustn't expect their own way
entirely； and I express in all our names that we'll make shift and
be satisfied with what you say。〃 The tranter touched the brim of
his imaginary hat again； and all the choir did the same。 〃About
Michaelmas； then； as far as you are concerned； sir； and then we make
room for the next generation。〃
〃About Michaelmas；〃 said the vicar。
CHAPTER V： RETURNING HOME WARD
〃'A took it very well； then？〃 said Mail； as they all walked up the
hill。
〃He behaved like a man； 'a did so；〃 said the tranter。 〃And I'm glad
we've let en know our minds。 And though； beyond that； we ha'n't got
much by going； 'twas worth while。 He won't forget it。 Yes； he took
it very well。 Supposing this tree here was Pa'son Mayble； and I
standing here； and thik gr't stone is father sitting in the easy…
chair。 'Dewy；' says he； 'I don't wish to change the church music in
a forcible way。'〃
〃That was very nice o' the man； even though words be wind。〃
〃Proper niceout and out nice。 The fact is；〃 said Reuben
confidentially； 〃'tis how you take a man。 Everybody must be
managed。 Queens must be managed： kings must be managed； for men
want managing almost as much as women； and that's saying a good
deal。〃
〃'Tis truly！〃 murmured the husbands。
〃Pa'son Mayble and I were as good friends all through it as if we'd
been sworn brothers。 Ay； the man's well enough； 'tis what's put in
his head that spoils him； and that's why we've got to go。〃
〃There's really no believing half you hear about people nowadays。〃
〃Bless ye； my sonnies！ 'tisn't the pa'son's move at all。 That
gentleman over there〃 （the tranter nodded in the direction of
Shiner's farm） 〃is at the root of the mischty。〃
〃What！ Shiner？〃
〃Ay； and I see what the pa'son don't see。 Why； Shiner is for
putting forward that young woman that only last night I was saying
was our Dick's sweet…heart； but I suppose can't be； and making much
of her in the sight of the congregation； and thinking he'll win her
by showing her off。 Well； perhaps 'a woll。〃
〃Then the music is second to the woman； the other churchwarden is
second to Shiner； the pa'son is second to the churchwardens； and God
A'mighty is nowhere at all。〃
〃That's true； and you see；〃 continued Reuben； 〃at the very beginning
it put me in a stud as to how to quarrel wi' en。 In short； to save
my soul； I couldn't quarrel wi' such a civil man without belying my
conscience。 Says he to father there； in a voice as quiet as a
lamb's； 〃William； you are a' old aged man； as all shall be； so sit
down in my easy…chair； and rest yourself。〃 And down father zot。 I
could fain ha' laughed at thee； father； f