He had also
been to school outside his shop, and had learned many lessons, often
confusing and apparently contradictory. Blanketeer marches; his
first wife; the workhouse imprisonment; his second wife; the little
Pauline had each come to him with its own special message, and the
net result was a character, but a character disappointing to persons
who prefer men and women of linear magnitude to those of three
dimensions.
After dinner the conversation turned upon politics and Mr. Allen
described his interview with Mr. Broad, regretting that the movement
in the district round Cowfold would receive no countenance from the
minister of the very sect which ought to be its chief support.
"A sad falling off," said Zachariah, "from the days, even in my time,
when the Dissenters were the insurrectionary class. Mr. Bradshaw,
last Sunday, after his sermon, shut his Bible, and told the people
that he did not now interfere much in political matters; but he felt
he should not be doing his duty if he did not tell those whom he
taught which way they ought to vote, and that what he had preached to
them for so many years would be poor stuff if it did not compel them
into a protest against taxing the poor for the sake of the rich.
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