He looked for a moment thoughtfully at the crowd;
Saw rows of hostile faces; caught the grin
Of ignorant curiosity; here and there,
A hopeful gleam of friendship; and, far back,
The young, swift-footed, waiting for the fire.
He fixed his eyes on these—then, in low tones,
Clear, cool, incisive, “I have come here,” he said,
“In the cause of Science only.”
He paused again.
Then, striking the mockery out of the mocker’s face,