“And when the practice is over, we’ll whip in some young folks and have a dance, and if you’ll fiddle some of them tunes--‘Moll in the Wad,’ or ‘The Parson among the Peas,’ or ‘The Devil among the Tailors,’ you’ll get intimate with young and old alike. Then, also, you can keep your eyes open, and pick out a clean, comely maiden, and keep company with her, and walk her out on Sundays--and so look to settling among us. You have a head-wind and a strong tide against you. The old master was _such_ a favourite, and so greatly respected, that I doubt, unless you make an effort, you won’t go down here.” “This evening you must excuse me; I’m very tired.” “Well, this was kindly intended. I thought to put you on good terms with the parish at once. Perhaps you’re shy of playing Jackson’s ‘Tee-dum’ till you’ve tried it over privately. I’ll see if I can borrow you the notes. Jackson’s ‘Tee-dum’”-- “I presume you mean the ‘Te Deum.’” “We always call it ‘Tee-dum’ here, and if you give it any other name, no one will understand you. We are English, not French or Chinese, in Coombe-in-Teignhead.” The landlord of the Lamb and Flag descended the stairs, and Bramber, fearing lest he should have given offence, accompanied him to the street door. His landlady was a widow. When Jonas Southcott was out of the house, she beckoned to Walter Bramber, and said-- “I be main glad you ain’t going to the practice to-night, for I have axed Jane Cann in to tea.” “Who is Jane Cann?” “Her teaches sewing and the infants in the National School. I thought you’d best become acquainted in a friendly way at the outset. She used to keep a dame’s school herself, and a very good school it was. But when the parson set up the new National School, he did not want exactly to offend folk, and to take the bread out of Jane Cann’s mouth,--you know she’s akin to me, and to several in the place,--so he appointed her to the infants. Her’s a nice respectable young woman, but her had a bit o’ a misfortune as a child; falled and hurt her back, and so is rather crooked and short. Her may be a trifle older than you, but folk do say that is always best so; for when the wife is young”-- “Goodness preserve us! you don’t suppose I am going to marry her because she is the sewing-mistress?” “You might do worse. Folk are sure to talk anyhow, and it’s best to give ’em some grounds for their talk. You see, she and you must walk together going to school and coming away, and she lives close by here. As I was saying, people say that when the wife is much younger than her husband there comes a long family, and the man is old and past work when some of the youngest are still no better than babies.” Bramber felt a chill down his spinal marrow, as though iced water were trickling there.