"Come young gentleman," said Captain Headley, entering
with an air of gaiety by no means usual to him, "you are,
it appears, in all things," and he bowed significantly
to Maria Heywood, "the chosen of the evening--but
recollect," he added, as he drew his arm through his own,
and proceeded towards the larger apartment where Ronayne
was awaited, "as you acquit yourself of YOUR duty, so
shall I of MINE."
"I shall do my best, sir," replied the youth, in the same
light tone, "but of the two orations, I know which will
be the best suited to my own taste."
The other ladies, with the exception of Mrs. Heywood,
had also risen, and now stood grouped near Captain Headley,
who, with Maria Heywood on his arm, leaned against the
door-way separating the two rooms--while Ronayne, amid
cheers and congratulations, made his way to the tribune,
at the farther end of the apartment.
His address was necessarily not long--for independently
of the impatience he could not but entertain at that
moment of all subjects but that nearest his heart, he
was by no means ambitious of making a display of his
powers of elocution.
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