It takes all the wind you to do the trumpety one. "There is no other tongue,' the Archbishop answered. 'It's not a real hymn,' Una explained. 'She does it as a treat after her exercises. She isn't a real organist, you know. She just comes down here sometimes, from the Albert Hall.' 'Oh, what a miracle of a voice!' said the Archbishop. It rang out suddenly from a dark arch of lonely noises every word spoken to the very end. 'Dies Iræ dies illâ Solvet sæclum in favilla. Teste David cum Sibylla.' The Archbishop caught his breath and moved forward. The music carried on by itself a while. 'Now it's calling all the light out of the windows,' Una whispered to Dan. 'I think it's more like a horse neighing in battle,' he whispered back. The voice cried 'Tuba mirum spargens sonum Per sepulchra regionum.' Deeper and deeper the organ dived down, but far below its deepest note they heard Puck's voice joining in the last line, Coget omnes ante thronum.' As they looked in wonder, for it sounded like the dull jar of one of the very pillars shifting, the little fellow turned and went out through the south door. 'Now's the sorrowful part, but it's very beautiful.' Una found herself speaking to the empty chair in front of her. 'What are you doing that for?' Dan said behind her. 'You spoke so politely, too.' 'I don't know Una. 'Funny!' I thought ' said 'Tisn't. It's the part you like best,' Dan grunted. The music had turned soft full of little sounds that chased each other on wings across the broad gentle flood of the main tune. But the voice was ten times lovelier than the music. 'Recordare Jesu pie, Quod sum causa Tuae viae, Ne me perdas illâ die!' There was no more. They moved out into the centre-aisle. 'That you?' the Lady called as she shut the lid. 'I thought I heard you, and I played it on purpose.' "Thank you awfully,' said Dan. 'We hoped you would, so we waited. Come on, Una, it's pretty nearly dinner-time.' SONG OF THE RED WAR-BOAT SHOVE off from the wharf-edge! Steady! She'll stand on her head in the bay. For we hold that in all disaster Raging seas have we rowed in But we seldom saw them thus, But never before such odds. The Gods know they are forsaken, We must risk the wrath of the Gods! Over the crest she flies from, The thunders bellow and clamour Close! But the blow has missed her, Hearken, Thor of the Thunder, We would house at home if we might But our master is wrecked out fishing, For we hold that in all disaster As the Gods Themselves have said Till one of the two is dead. That is our way of thinking, Now you can do as you will, While we try to save her from sinking, And hold her head to it still. Bale her and keep her moving, Or she'll break her back in the trough Who said the weather's improving, Or the swells are taking off? . Sodden, and chafed and aching, No matter the day is breaking, And there's far less weight to the seas! Up mast, and finish baling In oars, and out with the mead The rest will be two-reef sailing But we hold that in all disaster |