“Unanimous!” Tarbox pronounced. “No fractious minorities here, to block the wheels of legislation!”
The crowd burst into a roar at this significant remark, and, again abashed, dropped portcullis on its laughter, cutting off the flanks and tail of the sound.
“Mr. Purtett, will you please conduct the Chairman to the Chair,” says Bill, very stately.
“Make way here!” cried Perry, with the manner of a man seven feet high. “Step out now, Mr. Chairman!”
He took a big, grizzled, docile-looking fellow patronizingly by the arm, led him forward, and chaired him on a large cylinder-head, in the rough, just hatched out of its mould.
“Bang away with that, and sing out ‘Silence!’” says the knowing boy, handing Wheelwright an iron bolt, and taking his place beside him, as prompter.
The docile Chairman obeyed. At his breaking silence by hooting “Silence!” the audience had another mighty bobtailed laugh.
“Say, ‘Will some honorable member state the object of this meeting?’” whispered the prompter.
“Will some honorable member state the subject of this ’ere meetin’?” says Chair, a little bashful and confused.
Bill Tarbox advanced, and, with a formal bow, began, —
“Mr. Chairman —”
