and grandson as they moved to and fro in these preparations, the bass-viol and fiddles were taken from their nook, and the strings examined and screwed a little above concert pitch, that they might keep their tone when service commenced, to obviate the awkward contingency of having to retune them at the back of the gallery during a cough, sneeze, or amen—an inconvenience which had been known to arise in damp wintry weather.
The three left the door and paced down Mellstock-lane, bearing under their arms the instruments in faded green-baize bags, and old brown music-books in their hands; Dick continually finding himself in advance of the other two, and the tranter moving on with toes turned outwards to an enormous angle.
Seven human heads in a row were now observable over a hedge of laurel, which proved to be the choristers waiting; sitting occasionally on the churchyard-wall and
