Robert gave a low sigh of relief . It was almost over . Soon he would be able to escape and hide himself and his shame away from the mirthful eyes of these men and women who had earned the right to laugh at the world in which their success gave them power and influence . He -- he -- only -- was a failure . He wondered impatiently why Mrs. James did not rise . Mrs. James merely leaned comfortably back in her chair , with the righteous expression of one who has done her duty by her fellow creatures ' palates , and looked at Malcolm . Malcolm rose in his place . Silence fell on the company ; everybody looked suddenly alert and expectant , except Robert . He still sat with bowed head , wrapped in his own bitterness . `` I have been told that I must lead off , '' said Malcolm , `` because I am supposed to possess the gift of gab . But , if I do , I am not going to use it for any rhetorical effect to-day . Simple , earnest words must express the deepest feelings of the heart in doing justice to its own . Brothers and sisters , we meet to-day under our own roof-tree , surrounded by the benedictions of the past years . Perhaps invisible guests are here -- the spirits of those who founded this home and whose work on earth has long been finished . It is not amiss to hope that this is so and our family circle made indeed complete . To each one of us who are here in visible bodily presence some measure of success has fallen ; but only one of us has been supremely successful in the only things that really count -- the things that count for eternity as well as time -- sympathy and unselfishness and self-sacrifice . `` I shall tell you my own story for the benefit of those who have not heard it . When I was a lad of sixteen I started to work out my own education . Some of you will remember that old Mr. Blair of Avonlea offered me a place in his store for the summer , at wages which would go far towards paying my expenses at the country academy the next winter . I went to work , eager and hopeful .
All summer I tried to do my faithful best XXXXX my employer .
To as at because except for from if of under