This superb piece of imaginative prose, of which Shorthouse himself might have been proud,[9] is recalled by an answering note in _Ryecroft_, in which he says, 'I owe many a page to the street-organs.' And, where the pathos has to be distilled from dialogue, I doubt if the author of _Jack_ himself could have written anything more restrainedly touching or in a finer taste than this:-- [Footnote 9: I am thinking, in particular, of the old vielle-player's conversation in chap. xxiii. of _John Inglesant_; of the exquisite passage on old dance music--its inexpressible pathos--in chap. xxv.] 'Laughing with kindly mirth, the old man drew on his woollen gloves and took up his hat and the violin-bag. Then he offered to say good-bye. "But you're forgetting your top-coat, grandad," said Lydia. "I didn't come in it, my dear." "What's that, then? I'm sure _we_ don't wear such things." She pointed to a chair, on which Thyrza had just artfully spread the gift. Mr. Boddy looked in a puzzled way; had he really come in his coat and forgotten it? He drew nearer. "That's no coat o' mine, Lyddy," he said. Thyrza broke into a laugh. "Why, whose is it, then?" she exclaimed. "Don't play tricks, grandad; put it on at once!" "Now come, come; you're keeping Mary waiting," said Lydia, catching up the coat and holding it ready. Then Mr. Boddy understood. He looked from Lydia to Thyrza with dimmed eyes. "I've a good mind never to speak to either of you again," he said in a tremulous voice. "As if you hadn't need enough of your money! Lyddy, Lyddy! And you're as had, Thyrza, a grownup woman like you; you ought to teach your sister better. Why, there; it's no good; I don't know what to say to you. Now what do you think of this, Mary?" Lydia still held up the coat, and at length persuaded the old man to don it. The effect upon his appearance was remarkable; conscious of it, he held himself more upright and stumped to the little square of looking-glass to try and regard himself. Here he furtively brushed a hand over his eyes. "I'm ready, Mary, my dear; I'm ready! It's no good saying anything to girls like these. Good-bye, Lyddy; good-bye, Thyrza. May you have a happy Christmas, children! This isn't the first as you've made a happy one for me."'--(p. 117.)