CHAPTER X 

THE FAMILY COBWEB ON THE MOVE 



'Oh! the auld house, the auld house, What though the rooms were wee; Oh! kind hearts were dwelling there, And bairnies full of glee.' Lady Nairn. 

Every one except Edgar would, it was hoped, stay at home till after the Epiphany, that most marked anniversary of birth and death. 

Clement at first declared it impossible, for St. Matthew's could not dispense with him on the great day; and Fulbert grinned, and nudged Lance at his crest-fallen looks, when he received full leave of absence for the next three weeks. 

But Lance was bursting with reverse troubles. The same post had brought him a note from his organist; and that 'stupid old Dean' as he irreverently called him, had maliciously demanded 'How beautiful are the feet,' with the chorus following, and nobody in the choir was available to execute the solo but Lance. He had sung it once or twice before; and if he had the music, and would practise at home, he need only come up by the earliest train on the Epiphany morning; if not, he must arrive in time for a practice on the 5th; he would be wanted at both the festival and Sunday services, but might return as early as he pleased on Monday the 9th. 

Lance did not receive the summons in an exemplary spirit. It is not certain that he did not bite it. He rolled on the floor, and contorted himself in convulsions of vexation; he 'bothered' the Dean, he 'bothered' the Precentor, he 'bothered' the Organist, he 'bothered' Shapcote's sore throat, he 'bothered' Harewood's wool- gathering wits, he 'bothered' his own voice, and thereby caused Clement to rebuke him for foolish murmurs instead of joy in his gift. 

Answer this series of questions:

1. What chapter is this?
2. Is the Family on the move?
3. Who is a lady?
4. When could Lance return?
5. On what day?
6. Did Clement think it'd be possible at first?
7. Why not?
8. Who grinned?
9. Were the rooms big?
10. How had the note arrived to him?
11. Who was it from?
12. Could someone other than Lance do the solo?
13. What day would he have to arrive on time on?
14. Where did Lance roll the summons?
15. Who's sore throat did he bother?
16. Who rebuked Lance for all his bothering?
17. How many weeks was the leave of absence?
18. How long would everyone stay at home until?
19. Except who?
20. What does the Epiphany mark?

Numbered answers:
1. X
2. Yes
3. Nairn.
4. As early as he pleased.
5. Monday the 9th.
6. No
7. St. Matthew's could not dispense with him
8. Fulbert
9. No
10. from his organist
11. 'stupid old Dean'
12. No
13. the 5th
14. On the floor
15. Shapcote
16. Clement
17. Three
18. Till after the Epiphany,
19. Edgar
20. Birth and death.