"But that would be IN PUBLIC! There'll be a lot of people there," he said doubtfully.
A little amused at this first apparent sign of a want of confidence in himself, she said, with a reassuring smile, "So much the better,--you do it really too well to have it thrown away entirely on children." "Do YOU wish it ?" he said suddenly.
Somewhat confused, but more irritated by his abruptness, she replied, "Why not ?" But when the day came, and before a crowded audience, in which there was a fair sprinkling of strangers, she regretted her rash suggestion.

For when the pupils had gone through certain calisthenic exercises--admirably taught and arranged by him--and "spoken their pieces," he arose, and, fixing his eyes on her, began Othello's defense before the Duke and Council.

Here, as on the previous occasion, she felt herself personally alluded to in his account of his wooing.
Desdemona, for some occult reason, vicariously appeared for her in the unwarrantable picture of his passion, and to this was added the absurd consciousness which she could not put aside that the audience, following with enthusiasm his really strong declamation, was also following his suggestion and adopting it.

Yet she was also conscious, and, as she thought, as inconsistently, of being pleased and even proud of his success.

At the conclusion the applause was general, and a voice added with husky admiration and familiarity:-- "Brayvo, Johnny Walker!" Twing's face became suddenly white as a Pierrot mask.