'"
It is a very good thing to have at one's elbow a Bible of rules for
our guidance; but unfortunately we relieve ourselves very often of
the most necessary inquiry whether the rule applies to the particular
case in hand. Mr. Allen had the greatest possible respect for St.
Paul, but he felt sure the apostle was where he had no business to be
just at that particular moment. George also saw the irrelevance of
the quotation, and discerned exactly where it did not fit.
"Mr. Broad, I am sure I don't pretend to know what St. Paul thought
as well as you do--of course not--but do you think that voting is
like eating meat? Is it not a duty to express our convictions on
such questions as those now before the country? It didn't much
matter whether a man ate meat which had been offered to an idol or
not, but it does matter how we are governed."
Mr. Broad turned round on George, and smiled with a smile which was
certainly not a sign of affection, but otherwise did not notice him.
"Well, Mr. Broad," continued Mr. Allen, "all I can say is, I regret
it; and I am sure you will excuse me if I also say that we too
deserve some consideration. You forget that your refusal to declare
yourself may be stumbling-block to US.
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