And
at the same time you can understand that my position as an
authority on ecclesiastical architecture and liturgical subjects
would be weakened, if not altogether ruined, if it once got about
that I was the author of 'Cora with the lips of coral' and all the
rest of them."
Clovis had recovered sufficiently to ask in a sympathetic, if
rather unsteady, voice what was the special trouble with
"Florrie."
"I can't get her into lyric shape, try as I will," said Septimus
mournfully. "You see, one has to work in a lot of sentimental,
sugary compliment with a catchy rhyme, and a certain amount of
personal biography or prophecy. They've all of them got to have a
long string of past successes recorded about them, or else you've
got to foretell blissful things about them and yourself in the
future. For instance, there is:
'Dainty little girlie Mavis,
She is such a rara avis,
All the money I can save is
All to be for Mavis mine.'
It goes to a sickening namby-pamby waltz tune, and for months
nothing else was sung and hummed in Blackpool and other popular
centres."
This time Clovis's self-control broke down badly.
"Please excuse me," he gurgled, "but I can't help it when I
remember the awful solemnity of that article of yours that you so
kindly read us last night, on the Coptic Church in its relation to
early Christian worship.
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