And the old precentor hurried on to join the choir invisible.

For some months past, my old precentor had been failing fast.

The old precentor's box beneath the pulpit was still St. Cuthbert's only choir loft.

I found my old precentor weak, and failing fast, but "verra composed," as we say in New Jedboro.

It had grown late, and Erasmus Eckhart had surely been waiting some time for his school friend in the old precentor's house.

"Forgive my ignorance," said the shaky voice of the old Precentor, "but if I ever knew what the Aurora was, I have forgotten.