Evidently his delivery was a little more rapid than Senator Norman's. He must remember to speak slowly.
He had just reached this conclusion when a knock sounded at the side door and Rockwell entered.
"I've got it by heart," said Merriam.
"Good! Come into the sitting room, then. You're to have a cup of coffee and a sandwich before you start."
"Fine. I am a bit hollow. How's the Senator?"
Rockwell looked worried, but answered, "Sleeping again now. Come along if you're ready."
"In a minute."
Merriam bathed his face and hands, folded the speech and put it in his pocket, and followed Rockwell across the Senator's bedroom, with just a glance at the sick man in the bed and a nod to Dr. Hobart, who sat by the window with a newspaper into the sitting room.
After his morning of intense, solitary labour he was somewhat nonplused for a moment by the size of the company he found assembled there--Aunt Mary and Mollie June, of course, Alicia, Mr. Wayward, and Father Murray. He said good morning to each of them.
Alicia reminded him that it was really afternoon now.