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the most upo that headeh, Mr. Macey? You remember when first Mr. Lammeters 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 landlords appeal, and said, Ay, ay; I know, I know; but I let other folks talk. Ive laid by now, and gev up to the young uns. Ask them as have been to school at Tarley; theyve learnt pernouncing; thats come up since my day. If youre pointing at me, Mr. Macey, said the deputy-clerk, with an air of anxious propriety, Im nowise a man to speak out of my place. As the psalm says,
Well, then, I wish youd keep hold o the tune, when its set for you; if youre for practising, I wish youd practise that, said a large jocose-looking man, an excellent wheelwright in his weekday capacity, but on Sundays leader of the choir. He winked, as he spoke, at two of the company, who were known officially as the bassoon and the key-bugle, 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 youll bring me any proof as Im in the wrong, Im not the man to say I wont alter. But theres 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; youre right there, Tookey. Theres allays two pinions: theres the pinion a man has of himsen, and theres the pinion other folks have on him. Thered 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. Crackenthorps 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 gentlemans got a gift. Why, the Squire used to invite him to take a glass, only to hear him sing the Red Rovier;didnt he, Mr. Macey?Its a natral gift. Theres my little lad Aaron, hes got a gifthe can sing a tune off straight, like a throstle. But as for you, Master Tookey, youd better stick to your Amens; your voice is well enough when you keep it up in your nose. Its your inside as isnt right made for music; its no better nor a hollow stalk. This kind of unflinching frankness was the most piquant form of joke to the company at the Rainbow, and Ben Winthrops insult was felt by everybody to have capped Mr. Maceys epigram. I see what it is plain enough, said Mr. Tookey, unable to keep cool any longer. Theres a consperacy to turn me out o the choir, as I shouldnt share the Christmas moneythats where it is. But I shall speak to Mr. Crackenthorp; Ill not be put upon by no man. Nay, nay, Tookey, said Ben Winthrop; well pay you your share to keep out of itthats what well do. Theres 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 jokes a joke. Were all good friends here, I hope. We must give and take. Youre both right and youre both wrong, as I say. I agree wi Mr. Macey here, as theres two opinions; and if mine was |
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