'I hope you sing tenor.

I always long to have a tenor in my choir.

Why, we might have one of Barnby's anthems at Easter, and we haven't been able to sing one since Mr.Nash left the bank.' Hyacinth had never sung a part in his life, and could not read music, but he grew bold, and, professing to have an excellent ear, said he was willing to learn.

The prospect of a long series of choir practices conducted by Marion Beecher seemed to him just then an extremely pleasant one.
After dinner, while the two girls cleared away the plates and dishes, Canon Beecher invited Hyacinth to smoke.
'I never learnt the habit myself,' he said.

'It wasn't so much the fashion in my young days as it is now, but I have no objection whatever to the smell.' Hyacinth lit a cigarette apologetically.