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children； and any lingering remains were dissipated by her amusement
at Dr。 Spencer's ecstasy on seeing Dr。 May assume his red robe of
office； to go to the minster in state； with the Town Council。 He
walked round and round his friend； called him Nicholas Randall
redivivus； quoted Dogberry； and affronted Gertrude； who had a dim
idea that he was making game of papa。
Ethel was one of those to whom representation was such a penance；
that a festival； necessitating hospitality to guests of her own rank；
was burden enough seriously to disturb the repose of thankfulness for
the attainment of her object； and to render difficult the
recueillement which she needed for the praise and prayer that she
felt due from her； and which seemed to oppress her heart； by a sense
of inadequacy of her partial expression。 It was well for her that
the day began with the calm service in the minster； where it was her
own fault if cares haunted her； and she could confess the sin of her
irritated sensations； and wishes to have all her own way； and then；
as ever； be led aright into thanksgiving for the unlooked…for
crowning of her labours。
The archdeacon's sermon amplified what Margaret had that morning
expressed； so as to carry on her sense of appropriateness in the
offerings of the day being bestowed on distant lands。
But the ordeal was yet to come； and though blaming herself； she was
anything but comfortable； as the world repaired to the Town Hall； the
room where the same faces so often met for such diverse purposesnow
an orrery displayed by a conceited lecturer； now a ball； now a
magistrates' meeting； a concert or a poultry show； where rival
Hamburg and Dorking uplifted their voices in the places of Mario and
Grisi； all beneath the benignant portrait of Nicholas Randall；
ruffed； robed； square…toed； his endowment of the scholarship in his
hand； and a chequered pavement at his feet。
Who knows not an S。 P。 G。 meeting？ the gaiety of the serious； and
the first public spectacle to the young； who； like Blanche and
Aubrey； gaze with admiration at the rows of bonnets； and with awe at
the black coats on the platform； while the relations of the said
black coats suffer； like Ethel； from nervous dread of the public
speaking of their best friends。
Her expectations were realised by the archdeacon's speech； which went
round in a circle； as if he could not find his way out of it。 Lord
Cosham was fluent； but a great many words went to very small
substance； and no wonder； thought Ethel； when all they had to propose
and second was the obvious fact that missions were very good things。
Dr。 Hoxton pompously； Sir Henry Walkinghame creditably； assisted the
ladies and gentlemen to resolve that the S。 P。 G。 wanted help； Mr。
Lake made a stammering； and Mr。 Rivers； with his good…natured face；
hearty manner； and good voice； came in well after him with a
straightforward； speech； so brief； that Ethel gave Flora credit for
the best she had yet heard。
Mr。 Wilmot said something which the sharpest ears in the front row
might； perhaps； have heard； and which resulted in Dr。 Spencer
standing up。 Ethel hardly would have known who was speaking had her
eyes been shut。 His voice was so different； when raised and pitched；
so as to show its power and sweetness； the fine polish of his manner
was redoubled； and every sentence had the most graceful turn。 It was
like listening to a well…written book； so smooth and so fluent； and
yet so earnesthis pictures of Indian life so beautiful； and his
strong affection for the converts he described now and then making
his eyes fill； and his voice falter； as if losing the thread of his
studied compositiona true and dignified work of art； that made Dr。
May whisper to Flora； 〃You see what he can do。 They would have given
anything to have had him for a lecturer。〃
With half a sigh； Ethel saw Norman rise； and step forward。 He began；
with eyes fixed on the ground； and in a low modest tone； to speak of
the islands that Harry had visited； but gradually the poetic nature；
inherent in him； gained the mastery； and though his language was
strikingly simple； in contrast with Dr。 Spencer's ornate periods； and
free from all trace of 〃the lamp；〃 it rose in beauty and fervour at
every sentence。 The feelings that had decided his lot gave energy to
his discourse； and repressed as they had been by reserve and
diffidence； now flowed forth； and gave earnestness to natural gifts
of eloquence of the highest order。 After his quiet； unobtrusive
beginning； there was the more wonder to find how he seemed to raise
up the audience with him； in breathless attention； as to a strain of
sweet music； carrying them without thought of the scene； or of the
speaker； to the lovely isles； and the inhabitants of noble promise；
but withering for lack of knowledge； and finally closing his speech；
when they were wrought up to the highest pitch； by an appeal that
touched them all home； 〃for well did he know；〃 said he； 〃that the
universal brotherhood was drawn closest in circles nearer home； that
beneath the shadow of their own old minster； gladness and mourning
floated alike for all； and that all those who had shared in the
welcome to one； given back as it were from the grave； would own the
same debt of gratitude to the hospitable islanders。〃
He ceased。 His father wiped his spectacles； and almost audibly
murmured； 〃Bless him！〃 Ethel； who had sat like one enchanted；
forgetting who spoke； forgetting all save the islanders； half turned；
and met Richard's smiling eyes； and his whisper； 〃I told you so。〃
The impress of a man of true genius and power had been made
throughout the whole assembly； the archdeacon put Norman out of
countenance by the thanks of the meeting for his admirable speech；
and all the world； except the Oxford men； were in a state of as much
surprise as pleasure。
〃Splendid speaker； Norman May； if he would oftener put himself out；〃
Harvey Anderson commented。 〃Pity he has so many of the good doctor's
prejudices！〃
〃Well； to be sure！〃 quoth Mrs。 Ledwich。 〃I knew Mr。 Norman was very
clever； but I declare I never thought of such as this！ I will try my
poor utmost for those interesting natives。〃
〃That youth has first…rate talents；〃 said Lord Cosham。 〃Do you know
what he is designed for？ I should like to bring him forward。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Dr。 Hoxton。 〃The year I sent off May and Anderson was the
proudest year of my life！〃
〃Upon my word！〃 declared Mrs。 Elwood。 〃That Dr。 Spencer is as good
as a book； but Mr。 Norman I say； father； we will go without the new
clock； but we'll send somewhat to they men that built up the church；
and has no minister。〃
〃A good move that；〃 said Dr。 Spencer。 〃Worth at least twenty pounds。
That boy has the temperament of an orator； if the morbid were but a
grain less。〃
〃Oh； Margaret；〃 exclaimed Blanche。 〃Dr。 Spencer made the finest
speech you ever heard； only it was rather tiresome； and Norman made
everybody cryand Mary worse than all！〃
〃There is no speaking of it。 One should live such things； not talk
over them；〃 said Meta Rivers。
Margaret received the reports of the select few； who visited her
upstairs； where she was ke