well come early as late s'far as I know. The sooner begun, the sooner
over; for come it will."

"The question I ask is," said Mr. Spinks, connecting into one thread the
two subjects of discourse, as became a man learned in rhetoric, and
beating with his hand in a way which signified that the manner rather
than the matter of his speech was to be observed, "how did Mr. Maybold
know she could play the organ? You know we had it from her own lips, as
far as lips go, that she has never, first or last, breathed such a thing
to him; much less that she ever would play."

In the midst of this puzzle Dick joined the party, and the news which had
caused such a convulsion among the ancient musicians was unfolded to him.
"Well," he said, blushing at the allusion to Miss Day, "I know by some
words of hers that she has a particular wish not to play, because she is
a friend of ours; and how the alteration comes, I don't know."

"Now, this is my plan," said the tranter, reviving the spirit of the
discussion by the infusion of new ideas, as was his custom--"this is my
plan; if you don't like it, no harm's done. We all know one another very
well, don't we, neighbours?"

That they knew one another very well was received as a statement which,
though familiar, should not be omitted in introductory speeches.

"Then I say this"--and the tranter in his emphasis slapped down his hand
on Mr. Spinks's shoulder with a momentum of several pounds, upon which
Mr. Spinks tried to look not in the least startled--"I say that we all
move down-along straight as a line to Pa'son Mayble's when the clock has
gone six to-morrow night. There we one and all stand in the passage,