"'When I was young and called to the Bar.'"
[_General roar of laughter, taken by Harris as a compliment. Pianist,
thinking of his wife and family, gives up the unequal contest and
retires: his place being taken by a stronger-nerved man._]
THE NEW PIANIST _(cheerily):_ "Now then, old man, you start off, and
I'll follow. We won't bother about any prelude."
HARRIS (_upon whom the explanation of matters has slowly
dawned--laughing_): "By Jove! I beg your pardon. Of course--I've been
mixing up the two songs. It was Jenkins confused me, you know. Now
then."
[_Singing; his voice appearing to come from the cellar, and suggesting
the first low warnings of an approaching earthquake_.]
"'When I was young I served a term As office-boy to an attorney's
firm.'"
_(Aside to pianist_): "It is too low, old man; we'll have that over
again, if you don't mind."
[_Sings first two lines over again, in a high falsetto this time. Great
surprise on the part of the audience. Nervous old lady begins to cry,
and has to be led out_].