The juniors eyed him curiously.

Contrary to their expectation, he neither looked frightened nor confused, but his face was as cheery as his voice as he said, "You see, I couldn't resist your beautiful music." Was he in jest or earnest?
Did he really mean he had enjoyed the chorus, or was he poking fun at them?
They could not quite tell.
"Oh," said Cusack, not quite as defiantly, however, as he could have wished, "that's a song we sing among ourselves, isn't it, you fellows ?" "Ah!" said Riddell, before "the fellows" could chime in, "it's good fun belonging to a musical set--especially for songs like this, that appear to have several tunes all sung at once! You should give a concert." The boys looked more perplexed than ever.

It sounded like chaff, and yet they could scarcely believe it was.

So they smiled vacantly at one another, and began to feel the situation a little awkward.
"I suppose," continued Riddell, feeling his way carefully--"I suppose between nine and ten is the usual time for singing in Welch's?
I fancied it was before supper!" "Oh!" said Pilbury, "we do as we like here." "Do you, really ?" replied the captain.

"How jolly that must be!" Cusack and Pilbury could hardly tell why they laughed at this very innocent observation, but they did, and Riddell was quick enough to see his advantage.
"You know, I'd be very sorry to interfere with the beautiful music," he said; "but do you think you could get to like not to sing after supper ?" The boys stared as if they were not quite sure yet how to take it.
However, the captain made himself clear without further delay.