Mr. Priggs was ushered in by a melancholy strain from the piano, and placing one hand in his breast and tossing back his long hair with the other he burst into a series of questions about the fayre lady.
"Was it a dream of sadness
That reeled my brain to madness,
Or how
Did I see her brow
With its crown of golden gladness?"
After asking these questions Mr. Priggs proved conclusively that it was no dream, but
"A wild, weird, wandering, warning dame
Who set the ears of all aflame
With loud acclaim."
The poet treated his audience to about twenty verses of this gruesome production, and having ended with a long sigh stood on the stage for fully a minute. Everyone waited to hear what he was going to say next, but the poetic Ferdinand doubled up his limp body into what he called a bow, and slowly drifted out of sight, his legs apparently taking him wherever they chose to go.
On the conclusion of this dismal poem the full company sang "God save the Queen," and the concert ended amid the congratulations of all concerned, as they decided it was a great success.
The vicar heartily congratulated the performers on the receipts, as after paying all expenses there remained fully five pounds for the almshouse fund, to aid which the concert had been got up.
"Where is Doctor Nestley, to-night?" asked Beaumont as they went out.
"He had to stay with the squire," replied Una, who was leaning on Reginald's arm, "he's not at all well."
"Nerves?" asked Mrs. Larcher anxiously, taking a medical interest in the case.