Fenton was keenly alive to everything that was said, and in his
excitement fell into the mood not uncommon with people of his
temperament of regarding the whole debate from an almost impersonal
standpoint. His sense of humor was constantly appealed to, and he
laughed softly to himself with a feeling of amusement scarcely tinged
by concern for the result of the contest when Mr. Ranger, stately and
ponderous, got upon his feet. He could have told with reasonable
precision the inconsequent remarks which were to come; and the
interruption which they made appealed to his sense of the ludicrous as
strongly as it irritated many impatient members.
"I am confident," began Mr. Ranger with dignified deliberation, "that
all the excitement which seems to be manifest in many of the remarks
that have been made is wholly uncalled for. I am sure no member of this
club can suppose for an instant that its Executive Committee can have
intentionally been guilty of any discourtesy, and far less of any wrong
to a member. And we all have too much confidence in their ability to
suppose that they could fall into error in so important a thing as a
matter of discipline. And I need not add," he went on, not even the
real respect in which he was held being able wholly to suppress the
movement of impatience with which he was heard, "that we all must hold
Mr.
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