“What brought yer here if yer doesn’t know any on ’em?”
“Because I was invited.”
The weak-eyed bass-viol player and the military-looking cornet performer now came forward and offered their hands to Peace, and his conversation with Nelly was therefore brought to a premature close for awhile.
Peace discovered in the course of conversation with his two fellow musicians that an addition had been made to the orchestra—a harpist and a flutist had volunteered their services.
“But positively I tremble,” observed the young gentleman with the weak eyes.
“What at?” cried Peace.
“Well, you see, in case there should be any mistake. We certainly ought to have been introduced to the flutist and harpist, so that we might have had a little practice.”
“We shall manage well enough, I dare say,” observed the bass-viol player.
A cold collation had been spread out on the huge table in the adjoining room, into which the assembled guests were now conducted.
Mr. Jakyl was to have taken the head of the table, but he had been throughout his life a modest, unobtrusive man, and at his earnest request the village schoolmaster, Mr. Magnet, consented to occupy that place of honour.