They were by this time approaching the house in River Street, so there was no time for more discussion. It was Oscar’s temperament, as it was Sheila’s, to float with the stream of life, and take things easily. Perhaps it was this temperament in their father which had led to such disastrous results at last, but it was not quite easy for Oscar to realise this, though he was not ungrateful to North for his hint.
“What a hullabaloo!” exclaimed North, as he put his key into the latch and opened the door; and indeed there were sounds of very animated discussion going on in the drawing-room, the door of which stood open. The Cossart voices were rather loud when their owners were excited, and it seemed as though something of an exciting nature must be going on.
“What’s up?” asked the elder brother, pushing his way into the room, and both sisters began talking at once, so that it was not altogether easy to make out what either was saying.
“Oh, such a delightful plan! It’s the Bensons who are really getting it up—no, I should call it Mr. Ransom’s doing. But we are all to help. It will be no end of fun. I hope there’ll be acting! Anyway we shall have tableaux or something. And a bazaar, oh, yes, and some music. It’s to last for three days—perhaps a week even. And everybody will come. Oh, it will be the greatest fun! And we are to help in everything! We are to be on the Committee. I was never on a Committee before. I do feel so grand!” and Ray danced round her brother and made him a low curtsy, saying:
“We shall expect a great deal of patronage from Mr. Cossart, junior, of the Cossart works!”
“What’s it all about?” asked North, taking her by the shoulders and giving her a brotherly shake. “I can’t make head or tail of all that gabble. Now, mater, give us a cup of tea, and tell us quietly what all this means. Ray’s off her head, and Raby looks almost as demented. Some tomfoolery in the town, I suppose.”
“Well, that is rather a hard name to give it,” said Mrs. Tom with a smile. “It is like this. The new clergyman, Mr. Ransom, has, it seems, very proper and sound ideas about debt upon a church. I am sure your father would approve his views there. He thinks that debt is a wrong thing, and ought never to be contracted, especially over a house dedicated to the worship of God. He is quite shocked that in a prosperous town like this, there should be a heavy debt on the church, and that the mission chapel started two years ago should be almost entirely unpaid for. He spoke very seriously to his churchwardens and some of the leading men in the town, and he has so stirred them up to his view of the case that they are going to make a great effort to wipe out the whole debt immediately.”
“Good!” said North nodding his head. “I think that’s a very right way of looking at things. A man who lives in debt is considered to be doing a wrong to his creditors, and why not a church too?—or at least the people who build and use it.”
“That is what Mr. Ransom feels. He says he does not think that we can expect the same blessing upon the work of a church if the apostolic precept, ‘Owe no man anything,’ is deliberately broken. Well, a subscription list has been opened, and some really handsome sums have been already promised. But you know what people are. They want a little excitement and fun. And the Bensons have taken the matter up, and are canvassing all the town for a big bazaar and some entertainments in connection with it. The Corporation will give the Town Hall gratis for the purpose, and they are full of plans for making things go off with great éclat. They have been here talking things over with the girls this past hour. Mr. Benson is against having anything but local talent for whatever is got up. He says, ‘Why pay professionals from a distance when people would be much more interested in hearing their own young people sing, or seeing them act a little play, or perform in tableaux?’ And really I think he is right. I know I am dreadfully bored by hearing second-rate professionals. But if one knows the performers, why that’s quite a different matter.”
“And it will be such a nice chance for the glee club!” cried Raby. “And for some of us who have been having lessons. We did talk about getting up a concert at Christmas; but somehow it did not come off. Now, this seems the very thing, and everybody will come and hear us!”