Ladies and gentlemen of the Lumen Society, I await the
refutation of my opponent!"
Her opponent appeared to be having enough trouble with his legs, without
taking any added cares upon himself in the way of refutations. But the
marvellous Dora had calculated the length of her statement with such
nicety that the chairman announced "Four minutes," almost upon the
instant of her final syllable; and all faces turned once more to
the upholder of the affirmative. "Refutation and conclusion by the
affirmative," said the chairman. "Mr. R. Milholland. Two minutes."
Therewith, Ramsey coughed as long as he could cough, and when he felt
that no more should be done in this way, he wiped his face--again an act
of necessity--and quaveringly began:
"Gentlemen and ladies, or ladies and gentlemen, in making the refutation
of my opponent, I feel that--I feel that hardly anything more ought to
be said."
He paused, looked helplessly at his uncontrollable legs, and resumed:
"I am supposed to make the reputa--the refutation of my opponent, and I
feel that I ought to say quite a good deal more.
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