Illustrations of political economy, Volume 8 (of 9)Martineau, Harriet
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Illustrations of political economy, Volume 8 (of 9)
Martineau, Harriet
Didactic fiction, English; Political fiction, English; Social problems -- Fiction
The first Sunday of the opening of the chapel, Temple appeared in a
character which he had only once before attempted to support. On the
occasion of using the market-house for service, he had approached the
door, cast a glance within upon the company of soldiers, and the village
population at their worship, while their aged friend was leading their
devotions, and hastily departed, thankful that he was too pious to join
in such a service as this. He took the part of a religious man that day,
and now was the time for him to resume the character. Under the idea
that the market-house might be opened as usual for Dr. Sneyd, making his
own appear like an opposition place of worship, he spared no pains to
secure a majority in point of audience. He had managed to ride past the
military post, and be gracious with the soldiers. His domestics puffed
the chapel and chaplain at market, the day before, and the leading
villagers received intimations of good sittings being appropriated to
them. These pains might have been spared. All who desired might know
that Dr. Sneyd, his wife, son, and servants intended to be present, as a
matter of course.
When they entered, Temple looked nearly as much surprised as if they had
at the moment arrived from England. He made a prodigious bustle about
having them accommodated in a seat next his own, and condescendingly
sent them books, and inquired into the sufficiency of hassocks. During
the greater part of the service he stood up, as if he could not listen
with sufficient attention while sitting, like other people. Yet he
cleared his throat if any body moved, and sent his pert glance into
every corner to command a reverential demeanour, while his chaplain was
enforcing, as the prime glory and charm of a place of worship, that
there, and there alone, all are equal and all are free. Little Ephraim
cowered behind the coachman while the preacher insisted that here the
humblest slave might stand erect on the ground of his humanity; and the
butler stepped on tiptoe half way down the aisle to huff Jenkins the
ditcher for coming so high up, at the very moment that something was
quoted about a gold ring and purple raiment in the synagogue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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