"Now," said the vicar when his recital was at an end, "I'll ask those among us who will volunteer to act--ladies and gentlemen--to come forward. Especially I appeal to the ladies. They'll have to say very little." "Only to look nice, and I'm sure that won't cost 'em an effort, for they can't help it," declared Nathan. None immediately rose. Then Ned Baskerville strolled down the room. "Best-looking young man in Shaugh," cried an anonymous voice. "And the laziest!" answered another unknown. There was a laugh and Ned turned ruddy. "Thou'lt never take trouble enough to learn thy part, Ned!" cried Heathman Lintern. "Play Turkish knight, my son," said his father. "Then thou can'st be knocked on the head and die comfortable without more trouble." Others followed Ned, and Mr. Masterman called for Mark. "You'll not desert us, Mark? I shall want your help, I know." "And glad to give it," answered the young man. He grew very hot and nervous to find himself named. His voice broke, he coughed and cut a poor figure. Somebody patted him on the back. "Don't be frighted, Mark," said Vivian Baskerville; "his reverence only wants for you to do what you can. He wouldn't ask impossibilities." Mrs. Baskerville compared her handsome son to stammering Mark and felt satisfied. Cora Lintern also contrasted the young men, and in her bosom was anything but satisfaction. "You needn't act, but you must help in many ways. You're so well up in the old lore--all about our legends and customs," explained the clergyman. "We count on you. And now we want some of the older men among you, and when we've settled them we must come to the ladies. We're getting on splendidly. Now--come--you set a good example, Thomas." "Me!" cried Mr. Gollop. "Me to play-act! Whoever heard the like?" "You must play, Thomas," urged Vivian Baskerville of Cadworthy. "Such a voice can't be lost. What a King of Egypt the man will make!" "I'll do a part if you will, but not else," returned Gollop, and the Baskerville family lifted a laugh at their father's expense. "For that matter I've took the stage often enough," admitted Vivian; "but 'twas to work, not to talk. All the same, if his reverence would like for me to play a part, why, I'm ready and willing, so long as there isn't much to say to it." "Hurrah for Mr. Baskerville!" shouted several present. "And Mr. Nathan must play, too," declared Joe Voysey. "No revel would be complete without him." "If you'll listen I'll tell you what I think," said the clergyman. "I've considered your parts during the last five minutes, and they go like this in my mind. Let's take them in order:-- "St. George, Mr. Ned Baskerville. Will you do St. George, Ned?" "Yes, if you can't find a better," said the young man. "Good! Now the Turkish knight comes next. He must be young and a bit of a fighter. Will you be Turkish knight, Mr. Waite?"