The audience grew more and more excited. Ten, twenty speakers at once, stood up in their places. Angry words were shouted back and forth. Everybody thought it time to say something. The women grew nervous, and the policemen looked at their chief as if only awaiting a signal to put an end to the row. All this time, Markus, without having made a sign either of approval or of censure, had been sitting between Marjon and Johannes, with the family of Van Tijn. "Have you been listening, Markus?" asked Marjon, for it seemed to her as if his thoughts were elsewhere. But he nodded "Yes." "Say something, then," said Marjon. "Yes, do," urged Johannes. "Tell them which one is right." "Speak out, Markus. The one who knows ought to tell," said Van Tijn. "That is not easy to do," said Markus. Then he stood up. His figure now, as always, riveted attention, and the adroit leader of a tumultuous meeting felt instantly to whom he must yield the floor in order to re-establish calm. Thus Markus' first words rang out, amid the lessening uproar, as in a subsiding storm. And as he spoke it finally grew very still. But there was no sign either of assent or of disagreement. "There are fathers and mothers here," said Markus, "who know what spoiled children are. The spoiled child that is always coaxed and indulged, like the one that is always constrained, becomes at last capricious, malicious, and sickly. "Shall we then treat one another as we may not our children? People are flattered by undue praise of their power and influence--are carried away by the sweetness of fine words concerning the injustice they have too long endured and concerning their right to property and to happiness. You all listen to that eagerly, do you not? "But that to which one listens most eagerly, it is not always best to say. There are things hard to hear, which must, however, be said and be listened to. "I know that you are not going to applaud me, as yon did those two others; but yet I am a better friend to you than they are. "Among you there are those who suffer injustice. Yet you must not exalt yourselves. You should be ashamed of it. For whoever continues to suffer injustice is too weak, too stupid, or too indifferent to overcome it. "You must not ask, 'Why is it done to me?' but, 'Why cannot I overcome it?' "The answer to that question is, Weakness, stupidity, and indifference. "I do not blame you; but I say, blame not others, only yourselves. That is the sole way to betterment. "Is there one here--a single one--who dares assure me, solemnly, that if an honorable place were offered him by his master, on account of his good work and his good judgment, with higher pay than that of his comrades--that he would, in such case, reply, 'No, my master, I will not accept; for that would be treachery to my comrades, and desertion to your party.' Is there one such? If so, let him stand up." But no one stirred, and the silence remained unbroken.