Yea-Verily, my child, far be the day when that British
matron crosses our humble threshold."
Malcolm had determined not to disappoint his mother that evening, so
he banished all thoughts of his friends from his mind, and a few
minutes later he was showing people to their seats and chatting
pleasantly with his acquaintances.
Now and then, in the midst of her duties as a hostess, Mrs.
Herrick's eyes rested on her son's dark face with motherly pride and
tenderness.
He was doing his part so well--in his quiet, unobtrusive manner he
was making himself so agreeable. Oh, if he would only have stayed
with her, and been indeed the son of her right hand, and given
himself to the work; and then for a moment there was a filmy look in
the mother's eyes, and she listened a little absently to her
favourite speaker.
Malcolm did his part like a man. He applauded the speakers at
exactly the right moment, and when the meeting was over he actually
made a neat, telling little speech, conveying the vote of thanks to
the chairman; and both the manner and matter were so good that more
than one of Mrs.
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