"Us be going to have a dragon in the procession--with St. George a slaying of him, William," explained Mr. Prout. "The 'Infant' will never let himself be slain, I'm afraid?" murmured Nathaniel Spry in a questioning voice. "You'll have to wear an outrageous tail, William, an' cover your gert carcase in glittering scales," declared Jacob Taverner. "But I don't think you ought to be allowed to roar, for you haven't got a dragon's voice--to say it kindly." "'Twill come down to play-acting in a minute," grumbled Mr. Norseman, "and I don't hold with that, I warn the committee. If there's to be any May games of that sort, I'll lay it afore the vicar." William helped himself to a churchwarden from the box, and prepared to depart. "You'm a rare old rally," he said; "and all drunk a'ready, I should think." "You don't follow the course of the argument, my son," explained his father. "However, I'll make it clear at another time. You mustn't stop now, because we are in committee, and it would be irregular." "Bless you nose, I don't want to stop!" replied William. Then he made a mock bow and departed. When he had gone, Mr. Spry, who was a peace-loving man, proposed that they should drop the dragon. Pearn, Prout and Taverner, however, held out for the monster loudly, and Mr. Huggins supported them. "Better have a sub-committee to decide," sneered Jarratt Weekes; but Mr. Churchward ignored his satire and put the question to the vote. "Dragon romps home!" cried John Prout. "St. George and the Dragon have passed the committee," announced Mr. Churchward. "And now, gentlemen, perhaps you'll kindly help yourselves." There was an interval of clinking glasses and bubbling liquor. A smell of beer permeated the chamber. "All's going wonderful well," sighed Mr. Huggins. "I hope we haven't nearly finished yet." Presently the discussion was resumed. "With your permission, I will now myself submit a character," said the chairman, "and it is no less a solemn figure than the patriarch Moses." "Your reasons?" asked Jarratt Weekes sharply. Mr. Churchward flushed, but was not disconcerted. "Moses brought forth water from the rock. It would be symbolical and religious to have him in the procession. We've brought forth water from the rock. There you are--an allegory in fact." "You couldn't have hit on a higher idea in history, schoolmaster," asserted Nathaniel Spry. "There's no offence?" asked Mr. Norseman. "You're sure there's no offence, schoolmaster? You know what his reverence is." "I do," answered the chairman. "And I also know what I am. I believe that, when it comes to decorum, Mr. Norseman, I am generally allowed to be _facile princeps_. If I am wrong I hope somebody will correct me." Jarratt Weekes uttered a contemptuous sound into his glass as he drained it; then old Huggins spoke. His voice was tremulous, and he evidently laboured under great suppressed excitement.