CHAPTERV
FRANKGRESHAM\'SFIRSTSPEECH
Wehavesaid，thatoverandabovethoseassembledinthehouse，therecametotheGreshamsburydinneronFrank\'sbirthdaytheJacksonsoftheGrange，consistingofMrandMrsJackson；theBatesonsfromAnnesgrove，viz。，MrandMrsBateson，andMissBateson，theirdaughter——anunmarriedladyofaboutfifty；theBakersofMillHill，fatherandson；andMrCalebOriel，therector，withhisbeautifulsister，Patience。DrThorne，andhisnieceMary，wecountamongthosealreadyassembledatGreshamsbury。
TherewasnothingverymagnificentinthenumberofthegueststhusbroughttogethertodohonourtoyoungFrank；buthe，perhaps，wascalledontotakeamoreprominentpartintheproceedings，tobemademoreofaherothanwouldhavebeenthecasehadhalfthecountybeenthere。InthatcasetheimportanceoftheguestswouldhavebeensogreatthatFrankwouldhavegotoffwithahalf-mutteredspeechortwo；
butnowhehadtomakeaseparateorationtoeveryone，andverywearyworkhefoundit。