The Young Champion

Then uprose Gismond; and she knew
That she was saved. Some never met
His face before; but at first view
They felt quite sure that God had set
Himself to Satan; who could spend
A minute's mistrust on the end?

This pleased her most, that she enjoyed
The heart of her joy, with her content
In watching Gismond, unalloyed
By any doubt of the event;
God took that on him--she was bid
Watch Gismond for her part! She did.

--Browning.

Ishmael waited a few minutes for the excitement produced by the last
address to subside--the last address that in its qualities and effects
had resembled champagne--sparkling but transient, effervescent but
evanescent. And when order had been restored Ishmael arose amid a
profound silence to make his maiden speech, for the few opening remarks
he had made in initiating the defense could scarcely be called a speech.
Once more then all eyes were fixed upon him in expectancy. And, as
before, he was undisturbed by these regards because he was unconscious
of them; and he was calm because he was not thinking of himself or of
the figure he was making, but of his client and her cause. He did not
care to impress the crowd, he only wished to affect the court. So little
did he think of the spectators in the room, that he did not observe that
Judge Merlin, Claudia, and Beatrice were among them, seated in a
distant corner--Judge Merlin and Claudia were watching him with
curiosity, and Bee with the most affectionate anxiety. His attention was
confined to the judges, the counsel, his client, and the memoranda in
his hand. He had a strong confidence in the justice of his cause;
perfect faith in the providence of God; and sanguine hopes of success.