A Colonial Wooing
uneasily. One of them pushed a leaning board so that it fell; another tried to clear his throat, in which was no obstruction. John waited for a reply, and, after unnecessary delay, the spokesman remarked, "We must report to the meeting thy words for their action; and thee has not yet passed meeting, John." The other Friends bobbed their huge hat-brims to signify their accordance with the spokesman's remarks. Then the three men arose as if to go.
But if they were done with John, he was not with them. "Am I to have no expression of your opinion before you go? Must you reserve this for the meeting? If so," continued John, "let me say that if your fears of the man overlook the wrong-doing of Neighbor Watson, I shall report the matter to another body. You come here as a committee, with hearts full of condemnation instead of overflowing with Christian charity, and now, knowing the whole truth, will not assure me that the scales have dropped from your eyes. I have seen Ruth, and we shall marry out of meeting if there is any attempt
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