CHAPTER VI 

Maraton spent three hours and a half that morning in conclave with the committee appointed for his reception, and for that three hours and a half he was profoundly bored. Every one had a good deal to say except Richard Graveling, who sat at the end of the table with folded arms and a scowl upon his face. The only other man who scarcely opened his lips during the entire time, was Maraton himself. Peter Dale, Labour Member for Newcastle, was the first to make a direct appeal. He was a stalwart, grim-looking man, with heavy grey eyebrows and grey beard. He had been a Member of Parliament for some years and was looked upon as the practical leader of his party. 

"We've heard a lot of you, Mr. Maraton," he declared, "of your fine fighting methods and of your gift of speech. We'll hear more of that, I hope, at Manchester. We are, so to speak, strangers as yet, but there's one thing I will say for you, and that is that you're a good listener. You've heard all that we've got to say and you've scarcely made a remark. You won't object to my saying that we're expecting something from you in the way of initiative, not to say leadership?" 

Maraton glanced down the table. There were five men seated there, and, a little apart from all of them, David Ross, who had refused to be shaken off. Excepting him only, they were well-fed and substantial looking men. Maraton had studied them carefully through half-closed eyes during all the time of their meeting, and the more he had studied them, the more disappointed he had become. There was not one of them with the eyes of a dreamer. There was not one of them who appeared capable of dealing with any subject save from his own absolutely material and practical point of view. 
Who had a scowl on his face?
Where was he?
Who was Peter Dale?
What color was his hair?
What was he a member of for some years?
What did he say to Maraton?
How long was Maraton in the meeting that morning?
Who was the only one who didn't say much?
What did Maraton have a gift for?
And where did they hope to hear more about him?
What were they expecting from him?
What did Maraton study with half open eyes?
How did that make him feel?
Why?
Did he think they were capable?
What was the only thing he thought they were concerned with?
Who was grim looking?
Who looked down at the table?
How many men were sitting there?
Who was apart from them?
Richard Graveling
Every one had a good deal to say except Richard Graveling, who sat at the end of the table with folded arms and a scowl upon his face.
He sat at the end of the table
Richard Graveling, who sat at the end of the table with folded arms and a scowl upon his face.
Labour Member for Newcastle
Peter Dale, Labour Member for Newcastle, 
His beard was grey so probably grey
 He was a stalwart, grim-looking man, with heavy grey eyebrows and grey beard. 
Parliament
He had been a Member of Parliament
We've heard a lot of you, Mr. Maraton,
"We've heard a lot of you, Mr. Maraton," he declared,
3 1/2 hours
Maraton spent three hours and a half that morning in conclave 
Richard Graveling,
Every one had a good deal to say except Richard Graveling,
Speech
Mr. Maraton," he declared, "of your fine fighting methods and of your gift of speech.
at Manchester
We'll hear more of that, I hope, at Manchester
Initiative and Leadership
that we're expecting something from you in the way of initiative, not to say leadership?" 

The men at the table.
There were five men seated there, and, a little apart from all of them, David Ross, who had refused to be shaken off. Excepting him only, they were well-fed and substantial looking men. Maraton had studied them carefully through half-closed eyes
Disappointed
 Maraton had studied them carefully through half-closed eyes during all the time of their meeting, and the more he had studied them, the more disappointed he had become. 
No one had the eyes of a dreamer.
There was not one of them with the eyes of a dreamer. 
No
There was not one of them who appeared capable
Their own material and practical point of view.
There was not one of them who appeared capable of dealing with any subject save from his own absolutely material and practical point of view.
Peter Dale
Peter Dale, Labour Member for Newcastle, was the first to make a direct appeal. He was a stalwart, grim-looking man,
Maraton
Maraton glanced down the table. 
6 men
There were five men seated there, and, a little apart from all of them, David Ross,
David Ross,
 and, a little apart from all of them, David Ross, 