But, thought I, if the strain of the situation is so great for me, what must it be for Sir Anthony?
Presently the muffled sounds of outside cheering penetrated the hall.
The band stopped abruptly, to begin again with "See the Conquering Hero Comes" when the civic procession appeared through the great doors.
There was little Sir Anthony in his robes, grave and imposing, and beside him Mrs.Boyce, flushed, bright-eyed, and tearful.

Then came Lady Fenimore with Boyce, black-spectacled, soldierly, bull-necked, his little bronze cross conspicuous among the medals on his breast, his elbow gripped by a weatherbeaten young soldier, one of his captains, as I learned afterwards, home on leave, who had claimed the privilege of guiding his blind footsteps.

And behind came the Aldermen and the Councillors, and the General and his staff, and the Lord Lieutenant and Lady Laleham and the other members of the Reception Committee.

The cheering drowned the strains of the "Conquering Hero." Places were taken on the platform.

To the right of the Mayor sat Boyce, to the left his mother.