“Pity it hadn’t!” growled Parmenter. “Then there’d have been no question about my being an idiot. As it is—well, I’ve two years in which to get even with him. I think I can manage to make it up to him in that time.”
After a minute he added, “Did the Freshies carry sticks this morning, Charley?”
“Every one of ’em,” said Lee. “They all went down town last night after the row, and what canes they couldn’t raise money enough to buy, they begged or borrowed. They’re tremendously proud and joyous this morning—especially Van Loan. He thinks he’s the biggest toad in the puddle now, sure.”
Parmenter turned savagely toward the wall, and winced with the pain the movement caused him; but he said nothing. After a little Lee reverted to the prize-speaking contest. He had been thinking about it all the time.
“Don’t be discouraged about that prize-speaking, Fred,” he said. “Go ahead with it. Put it through. Never mind the gestures. They’re only a useless ornament, anyway. Why, you know—what’s his name?—that great orator, you remember; he never used gestures; disdained ’em; laid himself out on voice and expression, you know, and swayed the hearts of multitudes by his eloquent and thrilling—”
“Oh, tell that to the marines! Here, I want to get up. Give me a lift, will you, Charley? and help me on with my clothes.”
Parmenter had no great faith in the possibility of successful oratory without gestures, but Lee’s idea struck him as worth considering, after all; and the more he thought about it, the more he was inclined toward it.
He resumed the private rehearsals of his oration. He and Lee always rehearsed together, profiting by each other’s friendly criticism; but now Lee redoubled his efforts to make his friend’s work perfect and successful.
It was awkward to Parmenter at first to attempt to deliver his most telling sentences with his right arm bound to his side, so instinctive had gesturing become to him; but diligent study, persistent practice, and the judicious advice of his friendly critic helped him to overcome to a great extent that one difficulty. When on the following Friday he took his place before the judges, it was with no small degree of confidence in his success.