He had intended to satisfy the most eager of his friends, and to astound his opponents.

As it was, no one would be satisfied,--and none astounded but they who had trusted in him.
The debate began, and if the leisure afforded by a long and tedious speech could have served him, he might have had leisure enough.

He tried at first to follow all that this advocate for the ballot might say, hoping thence to acquire the impetus of strong interest; but he soon wearied of the work, and began to long that the speech might be ended, although the period of his own martyrdom would thereby be brought nearer to him.

At half-past seven so many members had deserted their seats, that Phineas began to think that he might be saved all further pains by a "count out." He reckoned the members present and found that they were below the mystic forty,--first by two, then by four, by five, by seven, and at one time by eleven.
It was not for him to ask the Speaker to count the House, but he wondered that no one else should do so.

And yet, as the idea of this termination to the night's work came upon him, and as he thought of his lost labour, he almost took courage again,--almost dreaded rather than wished for the interference of some malicious member.