It was an address which is still talked over at Gainsboro. At its close a deafening applause, which lasted for several minutes, rang up and down the grove.
When he stepped down from the platform Larry was greeted by a circle of admirers, and as soon as she could reach his side Lucy came forward with her compliments, which were worth more than all the other praise showered upon him. But he was too confused to speak intelligently.
“It was all a mistake—a miserable mistake, and——”
At this juncture Pluto Snyder, having broken from his captors, reached the spot, and, boiling with rage, cried out:
“Let me get at the hoodlum! He stole my speech—he is a sneaking——”
Seeing Lucy standing by Larry, he suddenly stopped his storm of abuse, saying, in a milder tone:
“You here, Miss Lucy, in the company of such a scapegoat? Let us go home, and I will tell you of the miserable trick he played on me.”
Lucy Howlitt, to whom all this was a mystery, not liking the appearance of Mr. Snyder under his excitement, declined to go home with him, pleading that her father was waiting for her.
Thereupon the crestfallen law student went away in a high dudgeon, using language neither becoming a gentleman or fit to be spoken in the presence of a lady.
“Come, Lawrence,” said Lucy, “you will please ride home with papa and me. There is plenty of room, and I want to hear your explanation of this affair. I did not dream you were capable of making such an address.”