"... Of course, Alan works very hard, but he does get these bees in his bonnet. The pews, for instance - all the older members were up in arms...."
"Good man" said Peter, firmly. "I can't abide these ghastly Victorian monstrosities."
Shula looked surprised and - could it be? - disappointed.
"D'you do much ringing in the parish?"
"Well, yes. I'm afraid I don't know very much about the bells, though. There should be a leaflet at the back of the church by the fair trade stall, though..."
"Ah, well, I'll have a look later. Mind if I have a look at them? Something awfully fascinating about bells, don't you think? If a little uncanny. 'In the silence of the night, How we shiver with affright, At the melancholy menace of their tone!', an' all that."
"I beg your pardon?" said Shula, who was beginning to think the visitor might be unhinged, rather than merely, as his old-fashioned dress suggested, eccentric.
"Never mind. The door to the bell tower's here, I take it? So good of you to let me go up. Charmin' little place, Ambridge. I've an idea my sister-in-law once stayed with old Mrs Pargetter. Spoke very highly of the village, though I'm not sure how closely she ever observed it. That's the thing, with villages - you never quite know what's going on beneath the ever-so-respectable surface... Well, I'll see you later, perhaps. Thanks awfully."
He vanished into the tower, and Shula heaved a sigh of relief. Strictly speaking, the tower was not open for visitors, but there was something about that man that made her feel slightly uneasy.
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"Good man" said Peter, firmly. "I can't abide these ghastly Victorian monstrosities."
Shula looked surprised and - could it be? - disappointed.
"D'you do much ringing in the parish?"
"Well, yes. I'm afraid I don't know very much about the bells, though. There should be a leaflet at the back of the church by the fair trade stall, though..."
"Ah, well, I'll have a look later. Mind if I have a look at them? Something awfully fascinating about bells, don't you think? If a little uncanny. 'In the silence of the night, How we shiver with affright, At the melancholy menace of their tone!', an' all that."
"I beg your pardon?" said Shula, who was beginning to think the visitor might be unhinged, rather than merely, as his old-fashioned dress suggested, eccentric.
"Never mind. The door to the bell tower's here, I take it? So good of you to let me go up. Charmin' little place, Ambridge. I've an idea my sister-in-law once stayed with old Mrs Pargetter. Spoke very highly of the village, though I'm not sure how closely she ever observed it. That's the thing, with villages - you never quite know what's going on beneath the ever-so-respectable surface... Well, I'll see you later, perhaps. Thanks awfully."
He vanished into the tower, and Shula heaved a sigh of relief. Strictly speaking, the tower was not open for visitors, but there was something about that man that made her feel slightly uneasy.