"This is perfectly astounding. Still, what is all this to me? It is

nothing. It does not concern me. The speech is made, and there an end.

I did break down for a moment, and in a rather uncomfortable place, since

I had led up to those statistics with some grandeur; the hiatus was

pleasanter to the House and the galleries than it was to me. But it is

no matter now. A week has passed; the jests about it ceased three or

four days ago. The whole thing is a matter of indifference to me, Miss

Hawkins."

"But you apologized; and promised the statistics for next day. Why

didn't you keep your promise."

The matter was not of sufficient consequence. The time was gone by to

produce an effect with them."

"But I hear that other friends of the Soldiers' Pension Bill desire them

very much. I think you ought to let them have them."

Miss Hawkins, this silly blunder of my copyist evidently has more

interest for you than it has for me. I will send my private secretary to

you and let him discuss the subject with you at length."

Did he copy your speech for you?"

Of course he did. Why all these questions? Tell me--how did you get

444

The Gilded Age