below.
"A handsome girl," he would murmur, upstaring, (and so I am).
"But--too much sex in her build; fine eyes, but eyelids too heavy;
A bosom too full for her age; in her lips too voluptuous a look."
(It may be. But who put it there? Assuredly it was not I.)

I went on playing and singing when this I had heard, and more,
Though tears half-blinded me; yes, I remained going on and on,
Just as I used me to chord and to sing at the selfsame time! . . .
For it's a contralto--my voice is; they'll hear it again here to-
night
In the psalmody notes that I love more than world or than flesh or
than life.

Well, the deacon, in fact, that day had learnt new tidings about me;
They troubled his mind not a little, for he was a worthy man.
(He trades as a chemist in High Street, and during the week he had
sought
His fellow-deacon, who throve as a book-binder over the way.)
"These are strange rumours," he said. "We must guard the good name
of the chapel.
If, sooth, she's of evil report, what else can we do but dismiss
her?"
"--But get such another to play here we cannot for double the price!"
It settled the point for the time, and I triumphed awhile in their
strait,
And my much-beloved grand semibreves went living on under my fingers.

At length in the congregation more head-shakes and murmurs were rife,
And my dismissal was ruled, though I was not warned of it then.