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but this I say； as the Rainbow’s the Rainbow。 And for the matter o’
that； if the talk is to be o’ the Lammeters； you know the most upo’
that head； eh； Mr。 Macey？ You remember when first Mr。
Lammeter’s father come into these parts； and took the Warrens？”
Mr。 Macey； tailor and parish…clerk； the latter of which functions
rheumatism had of late obliged him to share with a small…featured
young man who sat opposite him； held his white head on one side；
and twirled his thumbs with an air of complacency； slightly
seasoned with criticism。 He smiled pityingly； in answer to the
landlord’s appeal； and said—“Ay； ay； I know； I know； but I let
other folks talk。 I’ve laid by now； and gev up to the young uns。 Ask
them as have been to school at Tarley： they’ve learnt pernouncing；
that’s come up since my day。”
“If you’re pointing at me； Mr。 Macey；” said the deputy…clerk；
with an air of anxious propriety； “I’m nowise a man to speak out of
my place。 As the psalm says—
‘I know what’s right； nor only so； But also practise what I
know。’ “
“Well； then； I wish you’d keep hold o’ the tune； when it’s set for
you； if you’re for practising； I wish you’d practise that；” said a
large； jocose…looking man； an excellent wheelwright in his
weekday capacity； but on Sundays leader of the choir。 He winked；
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as he spoke； at two of the company； who were known officially as
the “bassoon” and the “keybugle；” in the confidence that he was
expressing the sense of the musical profession in Raveloe。
Mr。 Tookey； the deputy…clerk； who shared the unpopularity
common to deputies； turned very red； but replied； with careful
moderation： “Mr。 Winthrop； if you’ll bring me any proof as I’m in
the wrong； I’m not the man to say I won’t alter。 But there’s people
set up their own ears for a standard； and expect the whole choir to
follow ’em。 There may be two opinions； I hope。”
“Ay； ay；” said Mr。 Macey； who felt very well satisfied with this
attack on youthful presumption； “you’re right there； Tookey：
there’s allays two ’pinions； there’s the ’pinion a man has of
himsen； and there’s the ’pinion other folks have on him。 There’d
be two ’pinions about a cracked bell； if the bell could hear itself。”
“Well； Mr。 Macey；” said poor Tookey； serious amidst the
general laughter； “I undertook to partially fill up the office of
parish…clerk by Mr。 Crackenthorp’s desire； whenever your
infirmities should make you unfitting； and its one of the rights
thereof to sing in the choir—else why have you done the same
yourself？”
“Ah！ but the old gentleman and you are two folks；” said Ben
Winthrop。 “The old gentleman’s got a gift。 Why； the Squire used to
invite him to take a glass； only to hear him sing the ‘Red Rovier’；
didn’t he； Mr。 Macey？ It’s a nat’ral gift。 There’s my little lad Aaron；
he’s got a gift—he can sing a tune off straight； like a throstle。 But
as for you； Master Tookey； you’d better stick to your ‘Amens’： your
voice is well enough when you keep it up in your nose。 It’s your
inside as isn’t right made for music： it’s no better nor a hollow
stalk。”
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This kind of unflinching frankness was the most piquant form
of joke to the company at the Rainbow； and Ben Winthrop’s insult
was felt by everybody to have capped Mr。 Macey’s epigram。
“I see what it is plain enough；” said Mr。 Tookey； unable to keep
cool any longer。 “There’s a consperacy to turn me out o’ the choir；
as I shouldn’t share the Christmas money—that’s where it is。 But I
shall speak to Mr。 Crackenthorp； I’ll not be put upon by no man。”
“Nay； nay； Tookey；” said Ben Winthrop。 “We’ll pay you your
share to keep out of it—that’s what we’ll do。 There’s things folks
’ud pay to be rid on； besides varmin。”
“Come； come；” said the landlord； who felt that paying people
for their absence was a principle dangerous to society； “a joke’s a
joke。 We’re all good friends here； I hope。 We must give and take。
You’re both right and you’re both wrong； as I say。 I agree wi’ Mr。
Macey here； as there’s two opinions； and if mine was asked； I
should say they’re both right。 Tookey’s right and Winthrop’s right；
and they’ve only got to split the difference and make themselves
even。”
The farrier was puffing his pipe rather fiercely； in some
contempt at this trivial discussion。 He had no ear for music
himself； and never went to church； as being of the medical
profession； and likely to be in requisition for delicate cows。 But the
butcher； having music in his soul； had listened with a divided
desire for Tookey’s defeat and for the preservation of the peace。
“To be sure；” he said； following up the landlord’s conciliatory
view； “we’re fond of our old clerk； it’s nat’ral； and him used to be
such a singer； and got a brother as is known for the first fiddler in
this countryside。 Eh； it’s a pity but what Solomon lived in our
village； and could give us a tune when we liked； eh； Mr。 Macey？ I’d
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keep him in liver and lights for nothing—that I would。”
“Ay； ay；” said Mr。 Macey； in the height of complacency； “our
family’s been known for musicianers as far back as anybody can
tell。 But them things are dying out； as I tell Solomon every time he
comes round； there’s no voices like what there used to be； and
there’s nobody remembers what we remember； if it isn’t the old
crows。”
“Ay； you remember when first Mr。 Lammeter’s father come into
these parts； don’t you； Mr。 Macey？” said the land