"Then may I really tell Mr. Williams that I can accept it?"

"If I don't say yes, I suppose you'd magnify me into a sullen old bear,
as bad as Ketch, the porter. You may accept it. Stop!" thundered Mr.
Galloway, coming to a dead standstill.

Arthur was startled. "What now, sir?"

"Are you to be instructor to those random animals, the choristers?"

"Oh no: I shall have nothing to do with that."

"Very good. If you _had_ taken to them, I should have recommended you
to guard against such a specimen of singing as was displayed the other
day before the judges."

Arthur laughed; spoke a word of heartfelt thanks; and took his way
off-hand to the residence of the organist as light as any bird.

"I have obtained leave, Mr. Williams; I may take your offer!" he
exclaimed with scant ceremony, when he found himself in that
gentleman's presence, who was at tea with his wife. "Mr. Galloway has
authorized me to accept it. How do you do, Mrs. Williams?"

"That's a great weight off my mind, then!" cried the organist. "I set
that dolt of an apprentice of mine to play the folks out of college,
this afternoon, when service was over, and--of all performances! Six
mistakes he made in three bars, and broke down at last. I could have
boxed his ears. The dean was standing below when I went down. 'Who was
that playing, Mr. Williams?' he demanded. So, I told him about Jupp's