ewasanEnglishman,andnotasothersare.TommyAtkins,andJackTar,andMr.RudyardKipling,dancedajigtothestrainsoftheBritishGrenadiersandMr.JosephChamberlainexecutedapasseultotheairofYankeeDoodle.Lastly,hewavedtheUnionJack.
Thehideoussentimentality,andthebadtasteandthecommonnessmadeBerthaashamed:itwashorribletothinkhowignoblemustbethemindofamanwhocouldfoulhismouthwiththeexpressionofsuchsentiments.
FinallyEdwardsatdown.Foronemomenttheaudienceweresilent—fortheshortestinstantandthenwithonethroat,brokeintothunderousapplause.Itwasnoperfunctoryclappingofhandstheyroseasoneman,andshoutedandyelledwithenthusiasm.
“GoodoldTeddy,”criedavoice.Andthentheairwasfilledwith:Forhe’sajollygoodfellow.Mrs.BrandertonstoodonachairandwavedherhandkerchiefMissGloverclappedherhandsasifshewerenolongeranautomaton.
“Wasn’titperfectlysplendid?”shewhisperedtoBertha.
Everyoneontheplatformwasinafrenzyofdelight.Mr.BacotwarmlyshookEdward’shand.Mrs.MaystonRylefannedherselfdesperately.Thescenemaywellbedescribed,inthelanguageofjournalists,asoneofunparalleledenthusiasm.Berthawasdumbfounded.
Mr.Bacotjumpedtohisfeet.
“ImustcongratulateMr.Craddockonhisexcellentspeech.Iamsureitcomesasasurprisetoallofusthatheshouldprovesuchafluentspeaker,withsuchafundofhumourand—er—andcommonsense.Andwhatismorevaluablethanthese,hislastwordshaveprovedtousthathisheart—hisheart,gentlemen—isintherightplace,andthatissayingagreatdeal.InfactIknownothingbettertobesaidofamanthanthathisheartisintherightplace.Youknowme,ladiesandgentlemen,IhavemademanyspeechestoyousinceIhadthehonourofstandingfortheconstituencyin’85,butImustconfessIcouldn’tmakeabetterspeechmyselfthantheoneyouhavejustheard.”
“Youcould—youcould!”criedEdward,modestly.
“No,Mr.Craddock,noIassertdeliberately,andImeanit,thatIcouldnotdobettermyself.FrommyshouldersIletfallthemantle,andgiveit——“