For until you have a Chairman elected, there is no Chairman to give a
casting vote."

The Doctor thought that, since we had long ago elected a Chairman by
acclamation, the question was superfluous.

"And you call him a straightforward man!" Mr. Hansombody exclaimed,
turning round on the Meeting. "What I say is, are we to have
pusillanimity in our first Parish Council? What I say is, that a
gentleman who gives a working man such an answer to such a
question--"

At this point the door opened and a shrill voice asked,
"Is Hansombody here?"

"I am here," said Hansombody, "to expose impostors!"

"Because if so, he must please come home at once. Mrs. Hansombody's
cryin'-out!"

"I always said," remarked Old Pilot James, "that this cussed Act
would scare half the women in the Parish before their time."

"Beggin' your pard'n, Doctor," began his denouncer lamely.

"Not at all, not at all," said the Doctor. "We must keep these
matters altogether outside the sphere of party politics."
(_Loud cheering_.)

"Then I'll have to ask you to step along with me."