“It has one; an old ting-tang that calls us to service on a Sunday,” said Mr. Winter.
“I like to hear those midnight chimes, for my part. I like to hear them chime in the new year,” went on the stranger.
“Chimes!” cried out Captain Monk, who was getting very considerably elated, “why should we not have chimes? Mr. West, why don’t we have chimes?”
“Our church does not possess any, sir—as this gentleman has just remarked,” was Mr. West’s answer.
“Egad, but that parson of ours is going to set us all ablaze with his wit!” jerked out the Captain ironically. “I asked, sir, why we should not get a set of chimes; I did not say we had got them. Is there any just cause or impediment why we should not, Mr. Vicar?”
“Only the expense,” replied the Vicar, in a conciliatory tone.
“Oh, bother expense! That’s what you are always wanting to groan over. Mr. Churchwarden Threpp, we will call a vestry meeting and make a rate.”
“The parish could not bear it, Captain Monk,” remonstrated the clergyman. “You know what dissatisfaction was caused by the last extra rate put on, and how low an ebb things are at just now.”
“When I will a thing, I do it,” retorted the Captain, with a meaning word or two. “We’ll send out the rate and we’ll get the chimes.”