“That a public meeting should be held, sir, at the Withers’ Arms, and that a petition should be presented to the legislature against the threatened measure. He offered (having been engaged in a public meeting at M——) to prepare and move the resolutions, and proposed that Sergeant Rayne should be invited to take the chair, in case you, sir, as we feared, should decline doing us the honour of presiding.” “I disapprove the object of such a meeting, and could not therefore preside,” said my father. “We feared so, sir; as the groom said he believed you and his master were both of one mind,—both opposed to our opinions.” “And what says Sergeant Rayne?” “He too is of the objective school, sir.” “Indeed! And were his objections listened to?” “We thought it better to defer the consideration of them till the day of meeting. Every one, as Tom Webster says, will then have fair play, be he friend or be he enemy. So we proceeded with our arrangements till the sergeant made a very sensible remark, which put an end to our measures for the time. He observed that we were by no means certain of the fact regarding the common, which was indeed the case. But now, sir, we can proceed on your authority.” “Remember,” said my father, “that I know no more than that the act is likely to be obtained, and——” “True, sir; very true: but we must bestir ourselves now or never.” “Observe also, Carey, that the reason why I do not countenance your meeting is, that I believe it to be for the interest of Brooke and of every person in it that Brooke common should be cultivated.” “Indeed, sir! Well, as Tom Webster says, there is no end to varieties of opinion in this strange world; and where there is a difference, discussion is a very good thing.” “I am quite of Tom Webster’s opinion there, Carey; and therefore I shall always be ready to explain the grounds of my opinion to any one who cares to know them; and I am equally ready to hear any defence of the other side of the question.” “Why, then, if I may ask, sir, do you refuse to attend our meeting?” “Because I understood that the object of the meeting is not to discuss the question of inclosing waste lands, but to petition Parliament against the measure in our own case.” “Exactly so. Tom Webster said nothing about a public meeting for the sake of mere argument.” “Probably not. Besides, your evening conversations would answer the purpose as well, every man in Brooke being present, I believe. Only I suppose you are all on one side of the question.” “With the exception of the sergeant, sir; and he is so quiet, that little could be made out of his opposition.” “His quietness speaks in favour of his opinions to my mind,” observed my father; “for he is not too indolent or too timid to say what he thinks. He is not afraid of standing alone, is he?”