This is about all I have to say." Frank resumed the chair, and several of the members, perceiving the force of the president's reasoning, expressed themselves in favor of admitting Tim; when Charles Hardy rose and "plumed himself for a speech." "Mr.President: I confess my surprise at the direction this debate has taken.

There's a _destiny_ that shapes our ends--" "A what ?" asked Fred Harper, with a roguish smile.
"I beg the member on the other side will not interrupt me," replied Charles, with offended dignity.

"I quote the line as John Adams used it, in his celebrated speech, 'Sink or swim.'" "Who ?" "John Adams." "I beg the member's pardon, but John Adams never made any such speech," answered Fred who, it must be confessed, was rather too fond of tantalizing the ambitious youth.
"Really, Mr.President, I am surprised that the member should deny what we all know.

Why, the piece is in our reading book." "Daniel Webster put the speech into the mouth of Adams," added Frank; "and the patriot is only supposed to have made it." "It amounts to the same thing," continued Charles, with a slight blush.
"But your quotation was not correct," said Fred.
"Perhaps the member will give me the correct reading of the passage." "With pleasure; the lines are from Shakspeare:-- 'There's a Divinity that shapes our ends, Roughhew them as we will.' I fancy the lines will not suit the member now," continued Fred, as he cast a mischievous glance at the discomfited speech-maker.
"Go on, if you please," said Frank to Charles.
"As I was saying, Mr.President, 'There's a Divinity that shapes our ends'-- " "You were not saying so," interposed Fred.
"Order!" said the chairman.

"Proceed." But Charles Hardy could not proceed.