"Wonderful," he thought, elated by the silence, "that I should so have
succeeded in riveting their attention as to be able to hear a mouse
gnawing. I must have made a considerable impression." And, fearing to
spoil it by further speech, he set to work to grope his way round the
chapel wall in the hope of coming to the door. He had gone but a little
way when his outstretched hand came into contact with something warm,
which shrank away with a squeal.
"Oh!" cried Mr. Lavender, while a shiver went down his spine, "what is
that?"
"Me," said a stifled voice. "Who are you?"
"A public speaker, madam," answered Mr. Lavender, unutterably relieved.
Don't be alarmed.
"Ouch!" whispered the voice. That madman!
"I assure you, madam," replied Mr. Lavender, striving to regain contact,
"I wouldn't harm you for the world. Can you tell me in what portion of
the hall we are?" And crouching down he stretched out his arms and felt
about him. No answer came; but he could tell that he was between two
rows of chairs, and, holding to the top of one, he began to sidle along,
crouching, so as not to lose touch with the chairs behind him. He had
not proceeded the length of six chairs in the pitchy darkness when the
light was suddenly turned up, and he found himself glaring over the
backs of the chairs in front into the eyes of a young woman, who was
crouching and glaring back over the same chairs.
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