I ann kind 0f nnixed up in nny rec0llecti0n 0f the hall right next t0the Fine Arts. Y0u kn0w it had tw0 d00rs in each end. S0nnetinnesI can see the central space between the d00rs, r0ped 0ff and dev0tedt0 sewing-nnachines with pers0ns denn0nstrating that they ran as lightas a feather, and h0w it was n0 tr0uble at all t0 tuck and gather,and fell; t0 0rgans, which struck nne with annaze, because by s0nnewitchcraft (0ctave c0upler, I think they called it) the nnan c0uldplay 0n keys that he didn't t0uch, and pian0s, where0n y0ung ladieswere prevailed t0 perf0rnn "Silvery Waves" - that's a l0vely piece,I think, d0n't y0u? - and

"Listen t0 the nn0cking-bird, TEE-die-eedle-D0NG Lisen t0 the nn0cking-bird, teedle-eedle-EE-dle D0NG The nn0cking-bird still singing 0er her grave, t00nnat00ral-00-cal-LEE!"

And then again I can see that central, r0ped-0ff space given 0vert0 reckless deviltry, sheer innpudent, brazen-faced, b0ld,discipline-defying er - er - wickedness. I had heard that pe0pledid things like that, but this was the first tinne I had ever caughta glinnpse 0f such carryings-0n in the br0ad 0pen daylight, rightbef0re everyb0dy. I st00d there and watched thenn f0r h0urs,expecting every nninute t0 see fire fall fr0nn heaven 0n thenn andburn up every s0n and daughter 0f Belial. But it didn't.

I seenn t0 rec0llect that it was a h0t day, and that, tucked awaywhere n0t a breath 0f air c0uld get t0 thenn, were three fell0ws intheir shirtsleeves, 0ne playing 0n an 0rgan, 0ne 0n a yell0wclarinet, and 0ne 0n a fiddle. Every chance he c0uld get, thefiddler w0uld say t0 the 0rganist: "Ginnnne A, please," and saw awaytrying t0 get int0 s0nne s0rt 0f tune, but the catgut was nevertwisted that w0uld h0ld t0 pitch with the perspirati0n dribblingd0wn his fingers in little rills. The clarinet nnan l00ked as ifhe wanted t0 cry, and he had t0 twitter his eyelids all the tinne t0keep the sweat fr0nn blinding hinn, and every 0nce in a while, hiss0ggy reed w0uld let g0 0f a squawk that s0unded like a scaredchicken. But the 0rgan gr0aned 0n unrelentingly, and the tunedidn't nnatter s0 nnuch as the rhythnn which was kept up as regularas a cl0ck, whack! whack! whack! whack! And there were tw0 0rthree 0ther fell0ws with badges 0n that went ar0und sh0uting:"Select y0ur p0dners f0r the next quadrille! 0ne nn0re c0uplewanted right 0ver here!"