“In what way, pray, Miss Motuble?”
“In the disguise of his real feelings.”
“He is a heroic actor,” said Mrs. Grange.
“He is, indeed,” curtly replied Miss Motuble, addressing herself to Mrs. Grange; then in a complete change of voice, said, speaking to the President, with her back half turned to Mrs. Grange, “I mean, your Honor, that the noble man yonder is in a high fever of excitement caused by the disturbance in the auditorium—for he realizes that it was just the beginning of a long conflict, the end of which cannot be seen by mortal eyes. Yet the noble man is able to conceal his feeling out of his great love for his people, and his desire to have the banquet end successfully.”
“You know your people here better than I, Miss Motuble, this being your home; and pray, do you anticipate any further trouble?”
“I know the city but little better than yourself, your Honor, except possibly in the way of remembrance.”
Mrs. Grange, arousing herself from her passive state, said in a voice loud and cutting: “A subject of that fluid also!”
Ignoring her altogether, Marriet Motuble continued:
“With your Honor’s permission, I do remember many persons present as having lived in lives gone by. Some here to-night lived in this city one hundred and fifty years ago.”
“May I ask whom?”