ble silly, or else he might," said another.

"I never in my life seed a quire go into a study to have it out about the
playing and singing," pleaded Leaf; "and I should like to see it just
once!"

"Very well; we'll let en come in," said the tranter. "You'll be like
chips in porridge, {1} Leaf--neither good nor hurt. All right, my sonny,
come along;" and immediately himself, old William, and Leaf appeared in
the room.

"We took the liberty to come and see 'ee, sir," said Reuben, letting his
hat hang in his left hand, and touching with his right the brim of an
imaginary one on his head. "We've come to see 'ee, sir, man and man, and
no offence, I hope?"

"None at all," said Mr. Maybold.

"This old aged man standing by my side is father; William Dewy by name,
sir."

"Yes; I see it is," said the vicar, nodding aside to old William, who
smiled.

"I thought you mightn't know en without his bass-viol," the tranter
apologized. "You see, he always wears his best clothes and his bass-viol
a-Sundays, and it do make such a difference in a' old man's look."

"And who's that young man?" the vicar said.

"Tell the pa'son yer name," said the tranter, turning to Leaf, who stood
with his elbows nailed back to a bookcase.

"Please, Thomas Leaf, your holiness!" said Leaf, trembling.

"I hope you'll excuse his looks being so very thin," continued the
tranter deprecatingly, turning to the vicar again. "But 'tisn't his
fault, poor feller. He's rather silly by nature, and could never get
fat; though he's a' excellent treble, and so we keep him on."

"I never had no head, sir," said Leaf, eagerly grasping at this
opportunity for being forgiven his existence.

"Ah, poor young man!" said Mr. Maybold.

"Bless you, he don't mind it a bit, if you don't, sir," said the tranter
assuringly. "Do ye, Leaf?"

"Not I--not a morsel--hee, hee! I was afeard it mightn't please your
holiness, sir, that's all."

The tranter, finding Leaf get on so very well through his negative
qualities, was tempted in a fit of generosity to advance him still
higher, by giving him credit for positive ones. "He's very clever for a
silly chap, good-now, sir. You never knowed a young feller keep his
smock-frocks so clane; very honest too. His ghastly looks is all there
is against en, poor feller; but we can't help our looks, you know, sir."

"True: we cannot. You live with your mother, I think, Leaf?"

The tranter looked at Leaf to express that th