when his ear caught remarks which so much interested his niece as the subject of her disabled bicycle, looked down, biting his lip; while pious Miss Dimpleton turned a sharp frown upon Athelstan, which had no more effect in disturbing his reverie than if he had taken opium.
‘And so you’re to be confirmed next month, I understand, dear,’ said Mrs Bristley, in a soothing tone, wishing to relieve the young lady from the impression made by Mr Lockstable’s invocations.
‘Yes, I hope so; I’m very late, I know; I ought to have been confirmed three years ago, only I could never feel prepared for it. That reminds me—while I think of it—since Mr Bristley is so kind, and papa likes me to talk to him sometimes, there are a few questions about the New Testament history in which I am shamefully ignorant, and if it would not be intruding upon his time—’
‘Certainly, certainly, my dear Miss Dimpleton,’ said the vicar, coming forward. ‘Pray ask me whatever you like; I shall be most happy to be of use to you. Does anything occur to you which I can answer now, or would you rather come and see me at another time?’
‘Thanks, very much, perhaps that would the best, though indeed, while I think of it, there was just one question I should like to ask, and if—’
‘Ask it, by all means,’ said the vicar.
‘Well then,’ she said timidly, ‘which of the Apostles was it who—’
‘Bummincsy!’ roared Mr Lockstable, with a vivid stare into her face and a slap on his thigh that was heard by the furthest of the departing congregation. ‘Bummingby, of course, of course! Who should it be but Bummingby? Bummingby, Bummingby, of course! That’s your chappie, my beauty!’ still at Rose Dimpleton, with another but gentler slap on his thigh.
