It was the uniform practice of the Reverend John Broad to walk down
the main Street of Cowfold on Monday morning, and to interchange a
few words with any of his congregation whom he might happen to meet.
This pastoral perambulation not only added importance to him, and
made him a figure in Cowfold, but, coming always on Monday, served to
give people some notion of a preoccupation during the other days of
the week which was forbidden, for mental reasons, on the day after
Sunday. On this particular Monday Mr. Broad was passing Mr. Allen's
shop, and seeing father and son there, went in. Mr. Allen himself
was at a desk which stood near the window, and George was at the
counter, in a black apron, weighing nails.
After an unimportant remark or two about the weather, Mr. Allen began
in a cheery tone, so as to prevent offence:
"Mr. Broad, we are sorry we cannot persuade you to vote for the good
cause."
Mr. Broad's large mouth lengthened itself, and his little eyes had an
unpleasant light in them.
"Brother Allen, I have made this matter the subject of much
meditation, and I may even say of prayer, and I have come to the
conclusion it will be better for me to occupy a neutral position.
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