The handle of the door turned and opened and Huldy entered,
her mother leaning upon her arm.
They were greeted by hand clapping and cries of "Good evening" from the
party, and all eyes were fixed upon Strout, who stood as if petrified
and gazed at the three figures that came through the open door and stood
behind Huldy and her mother. Hamlet following the fleeting apparition on
the battlements of the castle at Elsinore, Macbeth viewing Banquo at his
feast, or Richard the Third gazing on the ghostly panorama of the
murdered kings and princes, could not have felt weaker at heart than did
Professor Strout when he saw the new-comers and realized that they were
there by his express invitation.
The members of the surprise party thought Strout had forgotten his
speech, and cries of "Speech!" "Speech!" "Give us the speech!" fell upon
his ear, but no words fell from his lips. It was a cruel blow, but no
crueler than the unfounded stories that he had started and circulated
about the town for the past three months. Those who had thought it was
mean not to invite the Pettengills and Mr.
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