"I should think," she added, "that George, after marriage, cannot
live at the shop."
"No, that will not be possible; they must take a private house."
So it was agreed, without any reference to the question whether
Priscilla and George cared for one another, that no opposition should
be offered. The Allens themselves, father and mother, were by no
means so eager for the honour of the match as Mrs. Broad supposed
them to be, for Mrs. Isaac, particularly proud of her husband, and a
little proud of their comfortable business and their comfortable
property, was not dazzled by the Flavel ancestry.
When George formally asked permission of Mr. Broad to sanction his
addresses, a meeting between the parents became necessary, and Mrs.
Broad called on Mrs. Allen. She was asked into the dining-room at
the back of the shop. At that time, at any rate in Cowfold, the
drawing-room, which was upstairs, was an inaccessible sanctuary, save
on Sunday and on high tea-party days. Mrs. Broad looked round at the
solid mahogany furniture; cast her eyes on the port and sherry
standing on the sideboard, in accordance with Cowfold custom;
observed that not a single thing in the room was worn or shabby; that
everything was dusted with absolute nicety, for the Allen's kept two
servants; and became a little reconciled to her lot.
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