It was some moments ere his voice was again heard.
When he did speak it was in a low, clear voice that gradually increased in volume.
"Mr.Chairman, and fellow members of the fourth class," Anstey continued in soft accents, "it may, at first thought, seem almost treacherous that I should favor any comrade over my own roommate." Bert Dodge flushed angrily, then paled.
"Believe me, sir and gentlemen, only a burning desire to see the best interests of the class served could nerve me to such a seeming lack of grace." In the intense stillness that followed the noise that Bert Dodge made in shifting his feet on the floor sounded loud, indeed.

Anstey was a trifle paler than usual, but he was working under an intense conviction, and the grit and dash of his Revolutionary forbears was quite sufficient to carry him on unswervingly to his goal of duty to the class.
"Against Mr.Dodge, sir and classmates, I have no word to offer.

I will admit that he would make a good president of the class.

In one study Mr.Dodge for a while stood so persistently among the goats as to hint at the possibility that he might not be with us long." Bert flushed angrily.
"But, most fortunately," pursued Anstey, in the same soft, Southern voice, "Mr.Dodge has lately pulled himself up from among the goats, and is most likely to remain here at the Academy for the allotted period of four years.
"Yet, sir and classmates, the words of our temporary presiding officer have sunk deeply into my brain.

We must choose the man who is most truly representative of the whole spirit, purpose and daring of the class.