Page:Lynch Williams--The girl and the game.djvu/59

 silence settling down over all like a mist and causing a hideous feeling of self-consciousness. They were afraid to look at each other; they were afraid to speak. "There goes the class Presidency," whispered Dougal Davis to Lamason.

Ignace Holland got up. He knew that any one would be welcome now; and, true enough, the room yelled with relief. He had always been jealous of Stehman's popularity, and now he saw his chance to get up in the estimation of the college world by stepping on his rival's head. His had been the voice from the far corner.

"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen," he began in his well-modulated tone, for he was what is called a born orator: "Self-preservation is the first law of Nature. I think each of us can imagine himself in circumstances in which he"

"It's a lie!" shouted Jack Stehman.

Holland, pretending to be surprised, turned toward him and said in his oily manner: "What is a lie, Jack, old man? Have I referred to you?" Every one was