! The rusty red-leather dust had come off on
his coat-sleeves; he really was not fit to be seen, and he took some
minutes more to brush it all off. So it was that Canon Parkyn chafed at
being kept waiting in the clergy-vestry, and greeted Mr Sharnall on his
appearance with a certain tartness:

"I wish you could be a little quicker when you are sent for. I am
particularly busy just now, and you have kept me waiting a quarter of an
hour at least."

As this was precisely what Mr Sharnall had intended to do, he took no
umbrage at the Rector's remarks, but merely said:

"Pardon me; scarcely so long as a quarter of an hour, I think."

"Well, do not let us waste words. What I wanted to tell you was that it
has been arranged for the Lord Bishop of Carisbury to hold a
confirmation in the minster on the eighteenth of next month, at three
o'clock in the afternoon. We must have a full musical service, and I
shall be glad if you will submit a sketch of what you propose for my
approval. There is one point to which I must call your attention
particularly. As his lordship walks up the nave, we must have a
becoming march on the organ--not any of this old-fashioned stuff of
which I have had so often to complain, but something really dignified
and with tune in it."

"Oh yes, we can easily arrange that," Mr Sharnall said
obsequiously--"`See the Conquering Hero comes,' by Handel, would be very
appropriate; or there is an air out of one of Offenbach's Operas that I
think I could adapt to the purpose. It is a very sweet thing if
rendered with proper feeling; or I could play a `Danse Maccabre' slowly
on the full organ."

"Ah, that is from the `Judas Maccabaeus,' I conclude," said the Rector,
a little mollified at this unexpected acquiescence in his views. "Well,
I see that you understand my wishes, so I hope I may leave that matter
in your hands. By the way," he said, turning back as he left the
vestry, "what _was_ the piece which you played after the service just
now?"

"Oh, only a fugal movement--just a fugue of Kirnberger's."

"I _wish_ you would not give us so much of this fugal style. No doubt
it is all very fine from a scholastic point of view, but to most it
seems merely confused. So far from assisting me and the choir to go out
with dignity, it really fetters our movements. We want something with
pathos and dignity, such as befits the end of a solemn service, yet with
a marked rhythm, so that it may time our foot