So the morning was spent in impressing everyone with his
shiny black suit of West-of-England broadcloth and his beautiful
neckcloth and bunch of seals. But in the evening he climbed the
pulpit; and there Old Nick himself, that lies in wait for preachers,
must have tempted the poor fellow to preach on Womanly Perfection,
taking his text from St. Paul.
He talked a brave bit about subjection, and how a woman ought to
submit herself to her husband, and keep her head covered in places of
public worship. And from that he passed on to say that 'twas to this
beautiful submissiveness women owed their amazing power for good, and
he, for his part, was going through Cornwall to tackle the womenfolk
and teach 'em this beautiful lesson, and he'd warrant he'd leave the
whole county a sight nearer righteousness than he found it. With
that he broke out into extempory prayer for our dear sisters, as he
called them, dusted his knees, and gave out the hymn, all as pleased
as Punch.
Sal walked home from service alongside of her husband, very
thoughtful. Deep down in the bottom of his heart he was afraid of
her, and she knew it, though she made it a rule to treat him kindly.
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