weregaywithbuntingattheside,againstthehighroadthatledtoGroombridge,thechurchandthepublic-housestoodtogetherinfriendlyneighbourhood,decoratedwithUnionJacks.Thewholescene,withitsgreatchestnut-trees,andthestretchofgreenerybeyond,waspleasantlyrural,old-fashionedandveryEnglishandtocompleteit,thesunshonedowncomfortablylikeagood-natured,mildoldgentleman.Thecurate,withafinesenseoforder,hadarrangedontherighttheschool-boys,nicelyscrubbedandredolentofpomatumandontheleftthegirls,supportedbytheirteachers.Inthemiddlestoodthechoir,thebrassband,andMr.Dryland.Thevillageyokelswerecollectedroundinopen-mouthedadmiration.Thelittlepartyfromthehousetooktheirplacesunderthetriumphalarch,theClibbornsassuminganexpressionofgenteelsuperciliousnessandastheyallworetheirSundayclothes,theymadequiteanimposinggroup.
Seeingthattheywereready,Mr.Drylandsteppedforward,turnedhisbacksoastocommandthemusicians,andcoughedsignificantly.Heraisedabovehisheadhislarge,whiteclericalhand,stretchingouttheindex-finger,andbegantobeattime.Hebellowedaloud,andthechoir,abarorsolate,followedlustily.Thebandjoinedinwithaheartybrayingoftrumpets.
"See,theconqueringHerocomes,
Soundthetrumpetsbeatthedrums."
Butgrowingexcitedatthemusicissuingfromhisthroat,thecurateraisedtheotherhandwhichheldhissoftfelthat,andbeattimeenergeticallywiththatalso.
Attheendoftheversetheperformerstookarapidbreath,asthoughafraidofbeingleftbehind,andthengallopedon,alittlelessevenly,untilonebyonetheyreachedthehighly-decoratedAmen.
Whenthelastnoteofthelastcornethaddiedawayonthestartledair,Mr.Drylandmadeasigntotheheadboyoftheschool,whothereuponadvancedandwavedhiscap,shouting:
"ThreecheersforCaptingParsons,V.C.!"
Thenthecurate,wipinghisheatedbrow,turnedroundandclearedhisthroat.
"CaptainParsons,"hesai