We used to chant it in the nursery
schoolroom on wet afternoons. I well remember that the vicar called
one day to see us, and the governess, hearing our voices uplifted in
a pious measure, drew him under the window to listen. This is what
he heard - you will see how admirably it goes! And do not imagine it
is wicked: it is merely the Law, not the Gospel, and we framed our
own musical settings, so that we had no associations with the Prayer
Book."
Here Hilda chanted softly, there being no one in the old
churchyard:-
"A woman may not marry with her Grandfather . Grandmother's Husband,
Husband's Grandfather .. Father's Brother . Mother's Brother .
Father's Sister's Husband .. Mother's Sister's Husband . Husband's
Father's Brother . Husband's Mother's Brother .. Father . Step-
Father . Husband's Father .. Son . Husband's Son . Daughter's
Husband .. Brother . Husband's Brother . Sister's Husband .. Son's
Son . Daughter's Son . Son's Daughter's Husband .. Daughter's
Daughter's Husband . Husband's Son's Son . Husband's Daughter's Son
.. Brother's Son . Sister's Son . Brother's Daughter's Husband ..
Sister's Daughter's Husband . Husband's Brother's Son . Husband's
Sister's Son."
"It seems as if there were nobody left," I said disconsolately,
"save perhaps your Second Cousin's Uncle, or your Enemy's Dearest
Friend."
"That's just the effect it has on one," answered Hilda. "We always
used to conclude our chant with the advice:-
"And if there is anybody, after this, in the universe . left to .
marry .. marry him as expeditiously . as you . possibly . can ..
Because there are very few husbands omitted from this table of .
Kindred and . Affinity .. And it behoveth a maiden to snap them up
without any delay . willing or unwilling . whenever and . wherever
found."
"We were also required to learn by heart the form of Prayer with
Thanksgiving to be used Yearly upon the Fifth Day of November for
the happy deliverance of King James I. and the Three Estates of
England from the most traitorous and bloody-intended Massacre by
Gunpowder; also the prayers for Charles the Martyr and the
Thanksgiving for having put an end to the Great Rebellion by the
Restitution of the King and Royal Family after many Years'
interruption which unspeakable Mercies were wonderfully completed
upon the 29th of May in the year 1660!"
"1660!
