human
Thank you, sir, said John.
gpt
It is a great pleasure to me to hear you say so. One never knows until trouble overtakes us how many friends and well-wishers one really has. And now about the organ, sir. I presume it is your wish that I should take up my old duties on Sunday next?
human
Hum! Well, the fact is, Mr. Brancker, it is about your position as organist that I have called to see you this morning. We are very well satisfied with Mr. Plympton, who has been officiating during your absence--very well satisfied, indeed--and I think, taking all the circumstances of the case into consideration, that it would, perhaps, be as well if the existing arrangement were allowed to go on, at all events for some little time to come. You will not fail to appreciate my motives, I am sure.
gpt
All the circumstances of the case! echoed John, blankly.
human
Pardon me if I fail to quite apprehend your meaning, Mr. Edislow.
gpt
I was in hope that your own good sense would have spared me the necessity of any further explanation, he said, a little stiffly.
human
If you are not aware, I can only say you ought to be, that although your trial on Saturday last resulted in your acquittal--a fact on which I have not failed to congratulate you most heartily--a very antagonistic feeling towards you still exists in certain quarters. There are not wanting those who say that, although the jury by their verdict avouched your innocence, certain suspicious circumstances connected with the affair have not yet been cleared up; and, in short, they choose to exercise the right of private opinion, and--and to assume--But, really, is there any need for me to pursue this painful topic any further?
gpt
None whatever, Mr. Edislow, answered John, with grave dignity.
human
If such a feeling as you speak of exists--though it seems hard to believe it of one's fellow-townsmen--why, then, sir, I quite agree with you that my position as organist at St. Mary's is no longer tenable, and I will at once place my formal resignation in your hands.
gpt
Ah! Brancker, it is a sad thing to say, but we live in a most uncharitable world. I shall be sorry to lose your services, but, all things considered, I fail to see how you could have come to any other decision.