None raised any further objection. Daniel took his place and Mr. Churchward turned to Nathaniel Spry.
"Read the minutes of the last meeting," he said.
The postmaster rose rather nervously and shuffled his papers.
"Keep it short as you can, Spry. We wasted a lot of time over that meeting—don't want to be here all night," remarked Jacob Taverner.
"I can't be 'urried, Jacob," answered the other. "I'm secretary, and I've done the work in a very secretarial way, and it's got to be read—all of it—hasn't it, Mr. Churchward?"
"Certainly it has," answered the schoolmaster. "In these cases the minutes of previous assemblies have to be kept carefully, including all memoranda and data. There is a right way and a wrong way, and——"
"Get on!" interrupted Weekes. "If Spry have to read out all that mess and row we had at the first meeting—sooner he's about it the better."
Nathaniel Spry rose and wiped his glasses.
"Go under the lamp, postmaster," said Brendon. "You'll see better."
"Thank you," answered the secretary. "Much obliged to you. I will do so."