What he liked was something spicy. And he made them read him French
novels and seafaring tales, containing realistic language. And they
didn't have to skip anything either, or he'd know the reason why.
"He said he liked music, so a few of them clubbed together and bought him
a harmonium. Their idea was that they would sing hymns and play high-
class melodies, but it wasn't his. His idea was--'Keeping up the old
girl's birthday' and 'She winked the other eye,' with chorus and skirt
dance, and that's what they sang.
"To what lengths his tyranny would have gone it is difficult to say, had
not an event happened that brought his power to a premature collapse.
This was the curate's sudden and somewhat unexpected marriage with a very
beautiful burlesque actress who had lately been performing in a
neighbouring town. He gave up the Church on his engagement, in
consequence of his _fiancee's_ objection to becoming a minister's wife.
She said she could never 'tumble to' the district visiting.
"With the curate's wedding the old pauper's brief career of prosperity
ended. They packed him off to the workhouse after that, and made him
break stones."
* * * * *
At the end of the telling of his tale, MacShaughnassy lifted his feet off
the mantelpiece, and set to work to wake up his legs; and Jephson took a
hand, and began to spin us stories.
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