The matter of the bow was arranged, and Mr. Gollop, in the familiar voice with which he had led the psalms for a quarter of a century, began his part.
"Here I, the King of Egypt, boldly do appear, St. Garge! St. Garge! walk in, my only son and heir; Walk in, St. Garge, my son, and boldly act thy part, That all the people here may see thy wondrous art!"
"Well done, Tom!" said Mr. Masterman, "that's splendid; but you mustn't sing it."
"I ban't singing it," answered the clerk. "I know what to do."
"All right. Now St. George, St. George, where are you?"
"Along with the girls as usual," snapped Mr. Gollop.
As a matter of fact Ned Baskerville was engaged in deep conversation with Princess Sabra and the Turkish Knight. He left them and hurried forward.
"You walk down to the footlights, and the King of Egypt will be on one side of you and Father Christmas on the other," explained the vicar.
"And you needn't look round for the females, 'cause they don't appear till later on," added Jack Head.
A great laugh followed this jest, whereon Miss Masterman begged her brother to try and keep order.
"If they are not going to be serious, we had better give it up, and waste no more time," she said.
"Don't take it like that, miss, I beg of you," urged Nathan. "All's prospering very well. We shall shape down. Go on, Ned."
Ned looked at his part, then put it behind his back, and then brought it out again.
"This is too bad, Baskerville," complained Dennis. "You told me yesterday that you knew every word."
"So I did yesterday, I'll swear to it. I said it out in the kitchen after supper to mother--didn't I, father?"
"You did," assented Vivian; "but that's no use if you've forgot it now."
"'Tis stage fright," explained Nathan. "You'll get over it."
"Think you'm talking to a maiden," advised Jack Head.
"Do get on!" cried Dennis. Then he prompted the faulty mummer.
"Here come I, St. George; from Britain did I spring; I'll fight the Russian Bear, my wonders to begin. I'll pierce him through, he shall not fly; I'll cut him--cut him--cut him----"
"You and Jack Head will have to practise the fight," explained the vicar; "and at this point, or earlier, the ladies will march in to music and take their places, because, of course, 'fair Sabra' has to see St. George conquer his foes."