"Well,--I really think he do." Mrs. Tappitt, in her double trouble,--in her own defeat and her shame on behalf of her husband's rudeness,--was driven back, out of all her latter-day conventionalities, into the thoughts and even into the language of old days. She was becoming afraid of Mrs. Cornbury, and submissive, as of old, to the rank and station of Cornbury Grange. In her terror she was becoming a little forgetful of niceties learned somewhat late in life. "I really think he do," said Mrs. Tappitt. Tappitt grunted again. "It's a very serious thing," he said. "So it is," said Mrs. Cornbury, interrupting him. She knew that her chance was gone if the man were allowed to get himself mentally upon his legs. "It is very serious; but the fact that you are still in doubt shows that you have been thinking of it. We all know how good a churchman you are, and that you would not willingly send a Jew to Parliament." "I don't know," said Tappitt. "I'm not for persecuting even the Jews;--not when they pay their way and push themselves honourably in commerce." "Oh, yes; commerce! There is nobody who has shown himself more devoted to the commercial interests than Mr. Cornbury. We buy everything in Baslehurst. Unfortunately our people won't drink beer because of the cider." "Tappitt doesn't think a bit about that, Mrs. Cornbury." "I'm afraid I shall be called upon in honour to support my party," said Tappitt. "Exactly; but which is your party? Isn't the Protestant religion of your country your party? These people are creeping down into all parts of the kingdom, and where shall we be if leading men like you think more of shades of difference between liberal and conservative than of the fundamental truths of the Church of England? Would you depute a Jew to get up and speak your own opinions in your own vestry-room?" "That you wouldn't, T.," said Mrs. Tappitt, who was rather carried away by Mrs. Cornbury's eloquence. "Not in a vestry, because it's joined on to a church," said Tappitt. "Or would you like a Jew to be mayor in Baslehurst;--a Jew in the chair where you yourself were sitting only three years ago?" "That wouldn't be seemly, because our mayor is expected to attend in church on Roundabout Sunday." Roundabout Sunday, so called for certain local reasons which it would be long to explain, followed immediately on the day of the mayor's inauguration. "Would you like to have a Jew partner in your own business?" Mrs. Butler Cornbury should have said nothing to Mr. Tappitt as to any partner in the brewery, Jew or Christian. "I don't want any partner, and what's more, I don't mean to have any."