"Now mark my answer.
'Uncle Issy,' says I, quick as thought, 'you dunderheaded old antic,-- leave that to the musicianers.

At the word 'whales,' let the music go snorty; an' for wells, gliddery; an' likewise in a moving dulcet manner for the holy an' humble Men o' heart.' Why, 'od rabbet us!--what's wrong wi' that boy ?" All turned to Young Zeb, from whose throat uncomfortable sounds were issuing.

His eyes rolled piteously, and great tears ran down his cheeks.
"Slap en 'pon the back, Calvin: he's chuckin'." "Ay--an' the pa'son at' here endeth!'" "Slap en, Calvin, quick! For 'tis clunk or stuffle, an' no time to lose." Down in the nave a light rustle of expectancy was already running from pew to pew as Calvin Oke brought down his open palm with a _whack!_ knocking the sufferer out of his seat, and driving his nose smartly against the back-rail in front.
Then the voice of Parson Babbage was lifted: "I publish the Banns of marriage between Zebedee Minards, bachelor, and Ruby Tresidder, spinster, both of this parish.

If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons--" At this instant the church-door flew open, as if driven in by the wind that tore up the aisle in an icy current.

All heads were turned.
Parson Babbage broke off his sentence and looked also, keeping his forefinger on the fluttering page.