“_I_ have known of it since this morning,” spoke Tom, with an assumption of easy consequence; while Mrs. Channing was recovering her senses, which had been nearly frightened away. “Arthur, I hope Williams intends to pay you?” “Fifty pounds a year, And the copying besides.” “_Is_ it true, Arthur?” breathlessly exclaimed Mrs. Channing. “I have told you that it is, mother mine. Jupp has resigned, and I am assistant-organist.” Annabel danced round him in an ecstasy of delight. Not at his success--success or failure did not much trouble Annabel--but she thought there might be a prospect of some fun in store for herself. “Arthur, you’ll let me come into the cathedral and blow for you?” “You little stupid!” cried Tom. “Much good you could do at blowing! A girl blowing the college organ! That’s rich! Better let Williams catch you there! She’d actually go, I believe!” “It is not your business, Tom; it is Arthur’s,” retorted Annabel, with flushed cheeks. “Mamma, can’t you teach Tom to interfere with himself, and not with me?” “I would rather teach Annabel to be a young lady, and not a tomboy,” said Mrs. Channing. “You may as well wish to be allowed to ring the college bells, as blow the organ, child.” “I should like that,” said Annabel. “Oh, what fun, if the rope went up with me!” Mrs. Channing turned a reproving glance on her, and resumed her conversation with Arthur. “Why did you not tell me before, my boy? It was too good news to keep to yourself. How long has it been in contemplation?” “Dear mamma, only to-day. It was only this morning that Jupp resigned.” “Only to-day! It must have been decided very hastily, then, for a measure of that sort.” “Mr. Williams was so put to it that he took care to lose no time. He spoke to me at one o’clock. I had gone to him to the cathedral, asking for the copying, which I heard was going begging, and he broached the other subject, on the spur of the moment, as it seemed to me. Nothing could be decided until I had seen Mr. Galloway, and I spoke to him after he left here, this afternoon. He will allow me to be absent from the office an hour, morning and afternoon, on condition that I attend for two hours before breakfast.” “But, Arthur, you will have a great deal upon your hands.” “Not any too much. It will keep me out of mischief.” “When shall you find time to do the copying?” “In an evening, I suppose. I shall find plenty of time.” As Hamish had observed, there was little to do at the books, that evening, and he soon left the parlour. Constance happened to be in the hall as he crossed it, on his way to his bedroom. Judith, who appeared to have been on the watch, came gliding from the half-opened kitchen door and approached Constance, looking after Hamish as he went up the stairs. “Do you see, Miss Constance?” she whispered. “He is carrying the books up with him, as usual!”