The toast was drunk with the wildest enthusiasm, for Bob was the most popular man in the place, and at that moment no one grudged the other his share in the glory of the hour. Valerie dare not look at anyone but Bob, for she felt eyes were upon her as well as on him. He got to his feet steadily enough and spoke lightly.
“Mr. Benton and friends. I certainly can’t claim anything on the work of the News. And as Mr. Barrington does not appear to be present I’m glad to have this chance to pay a tribute to his work on this campaign. He contributed more ideas than all the rest of us put together. I don’t think there is any question that his arguments and influence split the labour vote, and he has made our little News famous all over the country. And I agree with Miss Carr that the News has been a happy family on this job. And I’m sorry I hadn’t more to do with it. My part has been a very easy one. There was nothing hard about going round with a candidate whom everybody liked, talking stuff that everybody seemed to believe. But I thank you just the same.”
Valerie slipped down again into her chair. It seemed to her there was a deeper note in the applause that greeted these words, but no one, she thought, could have any idea what a triumph of character and decency that little speech was. She felt again that eyes were turned from Bob to her, and then she heard his voice in a different tone roaring out the toast of the evening, “To Roger Benton, the successful candidate, the new member for Waitemata.”
In the din that followed, Valerie worked her way from the table.
