"Trust schoolmaster to make a regular, valiant revel of it," said Mr. Huggins. "'Twill be very near as good as Wombwell's beast show, if the committee only stands by Mr. Churchward to a man." "Have you thought who the great characters should be?" asked Henry Norseman doubtfully. "I may have done so, churchwarden," answered the chairman; "but that's for us in committee. We must argue upon it. I invite you all to give your ideas; and what poor knowledge of history I may possess is at your service." "St. George for one," said Jarratt Weekes; and everybody looked at Mr. Churchward. He considered and nodded his head with gravity. The propriety of the idea was obvious; but Adam disliked the younger Weekes and grudged him credit. "The patron Saint of England--eh? Well, there's no objection to him, certainly," he said, but without enthusiasm; and Jarratt instantly made his annoyance clear. "Objection to St. George! Good God! I should think there wasn't any objection to St. George! What next, I wonder? If St. George ban't done, I'll leave the committee--so I tell you. You're glumpy because you didn't think of the man yourself!" "Order! order!" cried Mr. Churchward. "Far be it from me to cast any slur on the name of St. George. But there are so many other notable personages to consider; and as I am of opinion that we can hardly manage more than five or six at the outside, I felt doubtful. However, let us have St. George by all means. Those in favour of St. George will kindly signify the same in the usual manner." St. George was honoured with a unanimous vote. Then Mr. Huggins piped in. "And do let's have the old dragon, souls! St. Garge be nought without un." "The dragon! The dragon, Huggins?" asked Mr. Churchward. "That's rather startling--and yet----" "Certainly the dragon," said Mr. Prout firmly; "Valentine's right there." "'The Infant' might play dragon very nice," suggested Mr. Pearn. "Not he--too fat," declared Jarratt Weekes brutally; and William Churchward's father was a good deal hurt. "My son is not too fat," he answered. "William may be stout; but I imagine a prosperous dragon would be stout, for that matter. Wasn't St. George's dragon prosperous before he met St. George, Mr. Spry? You are pretty well up in the heathen mythology, I believe." "Thank you for that kind word, schoolmaster," said Spry. "And he was prosperous. 'Tis all a fable, but----" At this moment William Churchward entered. He was a huge, burly, thick-necked young man with a voice that surprised the ear. One expected a solemn bass and heard a ridiculous treble. William had bulbous, pale grey eyes like his father's, flabby chops and a small mouth. "There's your beer," he said. "Good Lord! you old blades be going it seemingly." "Would you play dragon, 'Infant,' and let St. Garge pretend to stick his spear into 'e?" asked Mr. Huggins.