The hush that had
fallen upon the Hall was as much the effect of that tranquil, ideal
presence as of the message with which it was charged. And yet that
apparition was as inconsistent with the clear, searching light
which helped to set it off, as it was with the broad new blazonry of
decoration, the yet unsullied record of the white walls, or even the
frank, animated and pretty faces that looked upon it. Perhaps it was
some such instinct that caused the applause which hesitatingly and
tardily followed her from the platform to appear polite and half
restrained rather than spontaneous.
Nevertheless Grant was honestly and sincerely profuse in his
congratulations. "You were far cooler and far more self-contained than I
should have been in your place," he said, "than in fact I actually WAS,
only as your auditor. But I suppose you have done it before?"
She turned her beautiful eyes on his wonderingly. "No,--this is the
first time I ever appeared in public,--not even at school, for even
there I was always a private pupil."
"You astonish me," said Grant; "you seemed like an old hand at it."
"Perhaps I did, or rather as if I didn't think anything of it
myself,--and that no doubt is why the audience didn't think anything of
it either."
So she HAD noticed her cold reception, and yet there was not the
slightest trace of disappointment, regret, or wounded vanity in her
tone or manner.
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