"
"No."
"Then ask his father to let him pray; and we need not invite Fanny
till Thomas has left."
The papa objected that perhaps Thomas might go to the Allen's, but
the mamma, with Dr. Flavel's bands before her, assured him that
Thomas would do nothing of the kind. So it was settled that Mr.
Broad should call at the Allen's to-morrow, and suggest that George
should "engage" on the following Thursday. This, it was confidently
hoped, would prevent any suspicion on their part that Fanny had been
put aside. Of course, once having begun, George would be regularly
on the list.
CHAPTER XVIII--A RELIGIOUS PICNIC
Occasionally, in the summer months, Tanner's Lane indulged in a
picnic; that is to say, the principal members of the congregation,
with their wives and children, had an early dinner, and went in gigs
and four-wheel chaises to Shott Woods, taking hampers of bread, cake,
jam, butter, ham, and other eatables with them. At Shott Woods, in a
small green space under an immense oak, a fire was lighted and tea
was prepared. Mr. Broad and his family always joined the party.
These were the days when Dissenters had no set amusements, and the
entertainment at Shott mainly consisted in getting the sticks for the
fire, fetching the water, and waiting on one another; the waiting
being particularly pleasant to the younger people.
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