your hand. (Exeunt Rob. and the Boy, and Sea. remains sometime musing with a dissatisfied face; then speaking to himself.) "The conciseness with which the Honourable Baronet who spoke last has treated this question." Ah! but I was,—I was too concise! The whole train of connecting and illustrative thoughts, which I had been at so much pains, before hand, to fix and arrange in my head, vanish'd from me as I rose to speak; and nothing of all that I had prepared presented itself before me, but the mere heads of the subject, standing up barren and bare, like so many detach'd rocks in a desert land, (starting up.) This will never do! I'm sure I have not spared myself: I have labour'd night and day at this speech: I have work'd at it like a slave in a mine; and yet, when I came to the push, it deceived me. (shaking his head.) This will never do! let me rest satisfied with what I have got, and think of being a speaker no more. (stands despondingly for a little while, with his arms across, then suddenly becomng animated.) No! I will not give it up! I saw an old school-fellow of mine in the lobby, as I went out, who whisper'd to the person standing next him as I pass'd, that I was his townsman. Does not this look as if my speech, even such as I was enabled to give it, had been approved of? O, I will not give it up! This is the only way to high distinction: I must drudge and labour still. Heigh ho! (yawning grievously. A gentle tap is heard at the door.) Who's therc? (angrily.)
Soph. (without.) May I come in, papa?
