The profoundest silence reigned while Amos uttered these words.  At first his voice had trembled, but it immediately became perfectly firm, and a quiet peace rested on his sweet face as he finished.  A sudden chill seemed to have fallen on most of the party.  Some shrugged their shoulders, some smiled, others looked annoyed.  Mrs Morse and her daughter exchanged looks of bewilderment behind Amos's back.  Walter, with feelings of mingled shame and vexation, glanced at the bright face of his aunt, whose eyes swam with grateful tears.  Then he glanced down: her hands were crossed; yes, he knew that it would be so.  And how felt Mr Huntingdon?  To the surprise of all, and of none more than Amos himself, he exclaimed, "That's right, Amos; you've spoken out like a man, and I believe you are right."