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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 kept quiet； and only heard the hum of the
swarm； whom Dr。 May； in vehement hospitality； had brought home to
luncheon； to Ethel's great dread； lest there should not be enough for
them to eat。
Margaret pitied her sisters； but heard that all was going well； that
Flora was taking care of the elders； and Harry and Mary were making
the younger fry very merry at the table on the lawn。 Dr。 May had to
start early to see a sick gardener at Drydale before coming on to
Cocksmoor； and came up to give his daughter a few minutes。
〃We get on famously；〃 he said。 〃Ethel does well when she is in for
it； like Norman。 I had no notion what was in the lad。 They are
perfectly amazed with his speech。 It seems hard to give such as he
is up to those outlandish places； but there； his speech should have
taught me betterone's bestand； now and then； he seems my best。〃
〃One comfort is；〃 said Margaret； smiling； you would miss Ethel more。〃
〃Gallant old King！ I am glad she has had her wish。 Good…bye； my
Margaret； we will think of you。 I wish〃
〃I am very happy；〃 was Margaret's gentle reassurance。 〃The dear
little Daisy looks just as her godfather imagined her；〃 and happy was
her face when her father quitted her。
Margaret's next visitor was Meta； who came to reclaim her bonnet；
and； with a merry smile； to leave word that she was walking on to
Cocksmoor。 Margaret remonstrated on the heat。
〃Let me alone；〃 said she； making her pretty wilful gesture。 〃Ethel
and Mary ought to have a lift； and I have had no walking to…day。〃
〃My dear； you don't know how far it is。 You can't go alone。〃
〃I am lying in wait for Miss Bracy； or something innocent；〃 said
Meta。 〃In good timehere comes Tom。〃
Tom entered； declaring that he had come to escape from the clack
downstairs。
〃I'll promise not to clack if you will be so kind as to take care of
me to Cocksmoor；〃 said Meta。
〃Do you intend to walk？〃
〃If you will let me be your companion。〃
〃I shall be most happy；〃 said Tom； colouring with gratification； such
as he might not have felt； had he known that he was chosen for his
innocence。
He took a passing glimpse at his neck…tie； screwed up the nap of his
glossy hat to the perfection of its central point； armed himself with
a knowing little stick； and hurried his fair companion out by the
back door； as much afraid of losing the glory of being her sole
protector as she was of falling in with an escort of as much
consequence； in other eyes； as was Mr。 Thomas in his own。
She knew him less than any of the rest； and her first amusement was
keeping silence to punish him for complaining of clack； but he
explained that he did not mean quiet； sensible conversationhe only
referred to those foolish women's raptures over the gabble they had
been hearing at the Town Hall。
She exclaimed； whereupon he began to criticise the speakers with a
good deal of acuteness； exposing the weak points； but magnanimously
owning that it was tolerable for the style of thing； and might go
down at Stoneborough。
〃I wonder you did not stay away as Harry did。〃
〃I thought it would be marked；〃 observed the thread…paper Tom； as if
he had been at least county member。
〃You did quite right；〃 said Meta； really thinking so。
〃I wished to hear Dr。 Spencer； too；〃 said Tom。 〃There is a man who
does know how to speak！ He has seen something of the world； and
knows what he is talking of。〃
〃But he did not come near Norman。〃
〃I hated listening to Norman；〃 said Tom。 〃Why should he go and set
his heart on those black savages？〃
〃They are not savages in New Zealand。〃
〃They are all niggers together；〃 said Tom vehemently。 〃I cannot
think why Norman should care for them more than for his own brothers
and sisters。 All I know is； that if I were my father； I would never
give my consent。〃
〃It is lucky you are not；〃 said Meta； smiling defiance； though a tear
shone in her eye。 〃Dr。 May makes the sacrifice with a free heart and
willing mind。〃
〃Everybody goes and sacrifices somebody else；〃 grumbled Tom。
〃Who are the victi