The president invited discussion.

For some few minutes no one rose; presently, after a whispered conversation with his friend, an elderly farmer stood up from the forms at the very back of the room.

He made no pretence to rounded periods, but spoke much better than might have been expected; he had a small piece of paper in his hand, on which he had made notes as the lecture proceeded.
He said that the lecturer had made out a very good case.

He had proved to demonstration, in the most logical manner, that farmers were fools.

Well, no doubt, all the world agreed with him, for everybody thought he could teach the farmer.