"Mamma, can't you teach Tom to interfere with himself,
and not with me?"
"I would rather teach Annabel to be a young lady, and not a tomboy,"
said Mrs. Channing. "You may as well wish to be allowed to ring the
college bells, as blow the organ, child."
"I should like that," said Annabel. "Oh, what fun, if the rope went up
with me!"
Mrs. Channing turned a reproving glance on her, and resumed her
conversation with Arthur. "Why did you not tell me before, my boy? It
was too good news to keep to yourself. How long has it been in
contemplation?"
"Dear mamma, only to-day. It was only this morning that Jupp resigned."
"Only to-day! It must have been decided very hastily, then, for a
measure of that sort."
"Mr. Williams was so put to it that he took care to lose no time. He
spoke to me at one o'clock. I had gone to him to the cathedral, asking
for the copying, which I heard was going begging, and he broached the
other subject, on the spur of the moment, as it seemed to me. Nothing
could be decided until I had seen Mr. Galloway, and I spoke to him
after he left here, this afternoon. He will allow me to be absent from
the office an hour, morning and afternoon, on condition that I attend
for two hours before breakfast."
"But, Arthur, you will have a great deal upon your hands."
"Not any too much. It will keep me out of mischief."
"When shall you find time to do the copying?"
"In an evening, I suppose.
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