Whether She will keep her part of the bargain is another matter.
But the Maiden's Prayer has been said, the Greatest of Sacrifices has been made.
[SILVER SPEECH AND GOLDEN
SILENCE]
I
SILVER SPEECH
"It is not only the interest of India--now the most considerable part of the British Empire--but the credit and honour of the British nation itself, will be decided by this division. We are to decide by this judgment whether the crimes of individuals are to be turned into public guilt and national ignominy; or whether this nation will convert the very offences which have thrown a transient shade upon its government into something that will reflect a permanent lustre upon the honour, justice and humanity of the kingdom! My lords! There is yet another consideration equal to those other two great interests I have stated--those of our Empire, of our national character--something that, if possible, comes more home to the hearts and feelings of every Englishman--I mean the interests of our constitution itself, which is deeply involved in this case."
In the audience, a young man, fair of face, blue of eye, looked up suddenly, then muttered under his breath:
"Hard cheek! What the deuce has he got to do with the British constitution?"
"Do be quiet, Tom!" blushed the girl who sat next him in a whisper; "they'll hear you."
Tom relapsed into bored silence, and the stream of words went on--