A hush followed the burst of applause that greeted Cora. Jerry settled back in her chair with something like relief--the thing had begun. She caught a little smile from Uncle Johnny that gave her courage. She must listen carefully to what Cora said. But as Cora, prettily at ease, began speaking, in a clear voice, Jerry grew rigid, paralyzed by the storm of amazement, unbelief and anger that surged over her. For Cora Stanton was presenting, word for word, the arguments _she had prepared and written on those sheets of paper_! And in the very front row sat Isobel, with Amy Mathers, their handkerchiefs wadded to their lips to keep back their laughter. It was very easy for poor Jerry to recognize the treachery. She was too angry to feel hurt. And, more than anything, she was too confused--for, when it came her turn, what was _she_ going to say? Wildly she searched her mind for something clear and coherent on the hideous subject and all that would come was Gyp's "let us pause--let us feel the fluttering of the heart that preceded the battle, let us hear the order to advance--the wild charge----" She did not hear one word that the first speaker on the negative side uttered, but the clapping that followed brought her to a pitiful consciousness. She rose to her feet, somehow--those feet of hers still twice their size--and stepped out toward the edge of the platform. A thousand spots of black and white that were eyes and noses and hats danced before her; she heard a suppressed titter from the front row. Then, out of it all came Gyp's strained face. Gyp was leaning a little forward, anxiously. Jerry gulped convulsively. From somewhere a voice, not in the least like her own, began: "You have been shown what the United States has done--" (no, no--Cora Stanton had said _that_!) "I mean we must go back (that was quite new) to--I mean--the ideals of America have been transplanted to----" (oh, Cora Stanton had said _that_)! Jerry choked. Out of the horror strained Gyp's agonized face. She lifted her chin, she must say _something_---- "Let us pause (ah, familiar ground at last)--let us pause----" There was a dreadful silence. "Let us pause and--and--let us pause----" With the last word all power of speech died in Jerry's throat! With a convulsive movement she rushed back to her seat. If they'd only laugh--that crowd out there in the room. But that silence---- Then, before anyone could stir, Dana King, the second speaker on the negative side, leaped to his feet with a burst of oratory that was obviously for the sole purpose of distracting attention from poor Jerry. And something in the good nature of his act, in his reckless wandering from the subject of the debate to gain his end, won everyone's admiration. As one wakes from a consuming nightmare so poor Jerry roused from her stupor of ignominy; she forgot Isobel, in the front row, and clapped with the others when Dana King finished.