'Excuse me for one moment, my dear friend.
Now, sir, what is the reason of this rough intrusion?'
'I am very sorry, sir, I am sure,' said Tom, standing, cap in hand,
before his patron in the passage; 'and I know it must have a very rude
appearance--'
'It HAS a very rude appearance, Mr Pinch.'
'Yes, I feel that, sir; but the truth is, I was so surprised to see
them, and knew you would be too, that I ran home very fast indeed, and
really hadn't enough command over myself to know what I was doing very
well. I was in the church just now, sir, touching the organ for my own
amusement, when I happened to look round, and saw a gentleman and lady
standing in the aisle listening. They seemed to be strangers, sir, as
well as I could make out in the dusk; and I thought I didn't know
them; so presently I left off, and said, would they walk up into the
organ-loft, or take a seat? No, they said, they wouldn't do that; but
they thanked me for the music they had heard. In fact,' observed Tom,
blushing, 'they said, "Delicious music!" at least, SHE did; and I am
sure that was a greater pleasure and honour to me than any compliment I
could have had.
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