It was with a shock that it came upon him all at once that the tide was
turning against him. There had been warm expressions of sympathy with
himself and of disapprobation at the course of the committee; and Grant
Herman had announced his intention of offering another motion, when
this should have been disposed of, to the effect that a printed notice
of the removal of the vote of censure be sent to each member of the
club; but it was evident that there was a general feeling that Fenton's
attitude was too extreme. The club was evidently willing to exonerate
him and to offer such reparation as lay in its power, but it was not
prepared formally to rebuke its committee. The debate had continued
nearly an hour, and speakers were beginning to say the same things over
and over. At the farther end of the room some men began to call
"question." The word brought Fenton to his feet like the lash of a
whip; he put his hands upon his chest as if he were panting for breath,
his eyes were fairly blazing with excitement, and when he spoke his
voice shook with the intensity of his emotion.
"Mr. President," he began, "it seems to me that the honor of this club
is in question. It had not occurred to me to regard this so much a
personal affront as an insult to the club which has elected me to its
membership. It is forced upon me by the remarks that have been made to
look at the personal side of the matter.
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