The forgotten speech

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

William knew the speech until he stood up. The opening words vanished as the room turned towards him. He looked at the paper, but the ink seemed arranged for somebody else. A chair creaked. He apologised, though he had not yet said anything wrong. The silence widened around the table.

Then he saw the collection box beside the door. He pointed to it and said what the money would buy: blankets, food, a repaired roof. These were things he understood. The sentences came unevenly, but they came. When he finished, a woman asked how to contribute. William looked down at the forgotten speech and folded it into his pocket.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to show how William manages public embarrassment. Support your answer with references to the passage.