VEIL OF OBEDIENCE

er end of the room, I could make out a counter of sorts, manned by an official bearing a stack of thick books and several lists. In

a how this "voting" method actually operated.

e action on behalf of all the abused women who are too lazy to speak up for themselves! Defend

ecific image for me: With a sly smile, Mr. Maxwe

s not acceptable to me! Honestly, I didn't look ladylike or modest; my skin was a little t

I told myself this over and over again. The image of Maxwell Duke lingered in front

ender, tiny man wearing a bright yellow waistcoat. Or was h

gh enough to support the theory. You

t. At a dinner party, I once overheard a gentleman talking about how the government was

g yourself, How

I had taken my

dition, he was not planning to vote. "Well, naturally, yes. Unless it w

of paper out of my pocket and unfolded it. The little ma

ment back to me, he responded, "Yes, everything seems to be in order," and I quickly put it back in my pocket. He gest

other me in t

ractice of making passports larger with photos on them. I could definitely pass for a guy if I put on jeans and a t

eue. In this way, I cautiously approached the counter, becoming more nervous by the moment. How were you "casting a vot

flinging objects around. All they did was bow as if to ta

ficial in front of me. He held out a piece of paper with the names of

ur vote," his tone remai

rprised. "Do you mean that my vote's

f the composition of the sea. 'Of course. If you feel embarrassed by your pol

y not to show how nervous I was.

y young man, we vote in public here." That is the intended course of events. My polling place will not be filled with the absurd ne

red

Each and every man who comes to vote here is a prosperous townie who makes

s was obviously expected. The official exuded hap

there or there, young sir, depen

fountain pen and immediately m

gs, do y

higs support the Chartist movement's radicals and rebels, who want to win votes from the people. Do you truly believe you know

it and see, sir, I sai

me. They all gazed at me with wide open mouths-the voters, the officials,

y was the iss

, what fun! I curtsied! I did

***

policeman was required to "restrain the madwoman in the polling station." The boy returned wit

sion to create a protest for women's rights in the polling place, taking advantage of the fact that I

helped remove me by force from a small polling station in the middle of London. Two of the office

out a cry. "Oppres

start and co

d gag her?He asked hi

t's not allowed," t

nning a str

that we don't ha

who oppress women. To my great satisfaction, they found it quite difficult to

ank across the misty street: Maxwell Duke. His black cloak was firmly wrapped around him, and his

e was still as expressionless as before, yet there was a steely glint in h

th a salute, he took one hand off my arm. My goodness. Mr. Maxwell Duke had to be someone

o pull away, but the sergeant immediately

nd trying not to let go of yours truly. "All right, so... Would

t me with a sudden

ou blind? What is your pl

o the ground when the sergeant reached up and remove

on on Mr. Maxwell Duke's face at that very time. His stone features

r. Duke did not reply. He gave me a nod, as though I were a feral horse. "Well, if you'd excuse us, sir, we have to take this

lots?" Does anyone know of any comparable experiences

y laughed and began pulling me to a pol

ce at that pr

face, even though he was already a dozen yards away, and the Bobbies were pulling me more and farther away. His dark eyes were beginning