"It doesn't matter a button about his being a dissenter. So much the better. Let's draw them in all we can."
"You ought to choose the church people first."
"It's done now, anyway," he replied. "Everybody likes the man. We must have him in it, or half the folk won't come."
"The King of Egypt is next," said Nathan, after he had been duly elected to Father Christmas. "I say Thomas Gollop here for the part."
"I don't play nought," answered Thomas firmly, "unless Vivian Baskerville do. He's promised."
"I'll be Giant, then, and say 'Fee-fo-fum!" answered the farmer. "'Twill be a terrible come-along-of-it for Ned here, and I warn him that if he don't fight properly valiant, I won't die."
"The very man—the only man for Giant," declared Dennis Masterman. "So that's settled. Now, who's for Doctor? That's a very important part. I suppose your father wouldn't do it, Mark? He's just the wise-looking face for a doctor."
"My brother!" cried Vivian. "Good Lord! he'd so soon stand on his head in the market-place as lend a hand in a bit of nonsense like this. Ask Luscombe here. Will you be Doctor, Saul?"
But Mr. Luscombe refused.
"Not in my line. Here's Joe Voysey—he's doctored a lot of things in his time—haven't you, Joe?"