at the self-same
warning a half dozen times, with sundry advices and variations
concerning the turning to the right of the King's Highway and the left
of the King's Highway, so many, and so complicated, that they arrived
at the end gasping for breath. Spectacle John warned the sopranos
again and again to go slowly, so as to admit of their overworked
followers getting in all their parts about the middle, left and right.
But Ella Anne Long was the real leader, and would wait for no man. She
hastened along the King's Highway at such a pace that it was beyond the
powers of human breath to keep up with her. Pete McQuarry declared
that it kept a fellow puffing just to stay anywheres on the King's
Highway, without bothering about the middle; and Davy Munn did not even
attempt the feat, but sang the air an octave lower.

They were scampering through the song for the third time when there was
a stir at the door, and a group of four entered: Elsie Cameron and her
brother Malcolm, with the minister's daughter and--actually--the busy
doctor himself. It was the first time Elsie had attended one of the
musical gatherings since her return, but she took her old place as
simply and naturally as though she had never left it. Malcolm went
over to the corner where the husky young Englishman stood, alone and
unheard, and gave him some assistance with the tenor, while the doctor
joined the other young men, and sang bass like a native.

They weathered through "The King's Highway" again, and sang a
temperance anthem, and several other choruses, and then they all sat
around the room, on the red and green plush chairs, and took a rest
while Ella Anne and her mother passed around raspberry vinegar and
layer-cake.

Spectacle John was just calling them all to order again for another
chorus when the minister put his head in at the door. Marjorie was to
get her hat, as they must be going in a moment, he announced, happily
unconscious of the scorching glance from the region of the tenors, and
would Elsie sing "Abide With Me" before he left?

The girl arose and went to the organ. Since her home-coming she had
been regarded with some disapproval in Elmbrook social circles because
of the promptness with which she answered an invitation to sing. It
was considered much more genteel and modest to at first disclaim
positively all musical ability, and to yield only after much
importuning. Every one felt that, though Elsie had been away in the
ci