Part 8 (2/2)
”Is it the Male Glee Party?” Edwin pursued.
”Yes, Mr Edwin.”
”Then Mr Smallrice will be there?”
”He will, Mr Edwin.”
”Why can Mr Smallrice sing such high notes?”
Big James slowly shook his head, as Edwin looked up at him. ”I tell you what it is, young sir. It's a gift, that's what it is, same as I can sing low.”
”But Mr Smallrice is very old, isn't he?”
”There's a parrot in a cage over at the Duck, there, as is eighty-five years old, and that's proved by record kept, young sir.”
”No!” protested Edwin's incredulity politely.
”By record kept,” said Big James.
”Do you often sing at the Dragon, Mr Yarlett?”
”Time was,” said Big James, ”when some of us used to sing there every night, Sundays excepted, and concerts and whatnot excepted. Aye! For hours and hours every night. And still do sometimes.”
”After your work?”
”After our work. Aye! And often till dawn in summer. One o'clock, two o'clock, half-past two o'clock, every night. But now they say that this new Licensing Act will close every public-house in this town at eleven o'clock, and a straight-up eleven at that!”
”But what do you do it for?”
”What do we do it for? We do it to pa.s.s the time and the gla.s.s, young sir. Not as I should like you to think as I ever drank, Mr Edwin. One quart of ale I take every night, and have ever done; no more, no less.”
”But”--Edwin's rapid, breaking voice interrupted eagerly the deep majestic tones--”aren't you tired the next day? I should be!”
”Never,” said Big James. ”I get up from my bed as fresh as a daisy at six sharp. And I've known the nights when my bed ne'er saw me.”
”You must be strong, Mr Yarlett, my word!” Edwin exclaimed. These revelations of the habits and prowess of Big James astounded him. He had never suspected that such things went on in the town.
”Aye! Middling!”
”I suppose it's a free-and-easy at the Dragon, to-night, Mr Yarlett?”
”In a manner of speaking,” said Big James.
”I wish I could stay for it.”
”And why not?” Big James suggested, and looked down at Edwin with half-humorous incert.i.tude.
<script>