"

"As Mr. Pettengill seems to know so much about my gentlemen friends, if
you want any more information, no doubt he can supply it," said Huldy
coldly.

"'Zeke kinder thought," said Bob Wood, "that he might be tired, and
probably went to bed right after supper."

"Well, he didn't," said Huldy, now thoroughly excited, "he came with me,
and he's outside now talking with Hiram about the barge."

"Why don't he come in?" asked Bob Wood. "P'r'aps he's bashful."

"If he didn't have no more common sense than you've got," retorted
Huldy, "he'd have to go to bed as soon as he had eaten his supper."

The laugh that followed this remark so incensed Wood that he answered
coarsely, "I never saw one of those city chaps who knew B from a bull's
foot."

"Perhaps he'll teach you the difference some day," remarked Huldy,
sarcastically.

"Well, I guess not," said Wood with a sneer; "'less he can put two b's
in able."

Further altercation was stopped by the sudden entrance of Mr. Strout,
who quickly ascended the platform and called the society to order. It
must be acknowledged that the Professor had a good knowledge of music
and thoroughly understood the very difficult art of directing a mixed
chorus of uncultivated voices. With him enthusiasm was more important
than a strict adherence to quavers and semiquavers, and what was lost in
fine touches was more than made up in volume of tone.

Again, the Professor paid strict attention to business at rehearsals,
and the progress of the society in musical knowledge had been very
marked. So it is not to be wondered at that the various numbers allotted
to the chorus on the next evening's programme were gone through quickly
and to the evident satisfaction of the leader.

The last number to be taken up was an original composition, written and
composed by the singing-master himself, and during its rehearsal his
enthusiasm reached its highest pitch. At the conclusion of the chorus,
which had been rendered with remarkable spirit, the Professor darted
from one-end of the platform to the other, crying out, "Bravo! Fust
rate! Do it again! That'll fetch 'em!"

After several repetitions of the chorus, each one given with increasing
spirit and volume, the Professor threw down his baton and said: "That'll
do. You're excused until to-morrow night, seven o'clock sharp at
Eastborough Town Hall. I guess the barge has just drove up and we'd
better be gittin' ready for our sleigh ride."

Miss Tilly