But there was to be an election meeting
that evening, and Mr. Allen was to speak, and George, of course, must
be there. The evening came, and the room at the Mechanics'
Institute, which had just been established in Cowfold, was crowded.
Admission was not by ticket, so that, though the Whigs had convened
it, there was a strong muster of the enemy. Mr. Allen moved the
first resolution in a stirring speech, which was constitutionally
interrupted with appeals to him to go home and questions about a grey
mare--"How about old Pinfold's grey mare?"--which seemed conclusive
and humorous to the last degree. Old Pinfold was a well-known
character in Cowfold, horse-dealer, pig-jobber, attendant at races,
with no definite occupation, and the grey mare was an animal which he
managed to impose upon Mr. Allen, who sued him and lost.
When Mr. Allen's resolution had been duly seconded, one Rogers, a
publican, got up and said he had something to say. There was
indescribable confusion, some crying, "Turn him out;" others "Pitch
into 'em, Bill." Bill Rogers was well known as the funny man in
Cowfold, a half-drunken buffoon, whose wit, such as it was, was
retailed all over the place; a man who was specially pleased if he
could be present in any assembly collected for any serious purpose
and turn it into ridicule.
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