the blind Fury, with abhorred shears," says COZENS-HARDY,
dropping into bad language, "and cuts us off our Toosday."
[Illustration: "Comes the blind Fury."]
Nothing in the world less like a blind Fury than our dear Leader, as
he sits on Treasury Bench bearing brunt of protest from every side.
Very sorry; desirous of meeting convenience of Hon. Members in
whatever part of House they sit. But duty has first call. Duty to
QUEEN and country demands partial sacrifice of Tuesdays.
Motion carried, and this the last Tuesday Private Members will enjoy.
Must make the most of it. COMPTON on first, with Motion setting forth
grievances of Postal Telegraph Clerks. Excellent Debate, and Division
over by eight o'clock. Still four hours' work. MARK STEWART has next
place. STEWART has Marked necessity for Reform of Constitution in
proceedings of Fiars Courts in Scotland. Thinks functions of Fiars'
Juries should be extended. Rare opportunity for House of Commons to
master this question. True, it is dinner-time; but what is dinner
compared with the national interest smouldering under these Fiars?
Besides, it's our last Tuesday.
"We must make the most of this," says ALBERT ROLLIT to RICHARD TEMPLE.
"Yes," says RICHARD TEMPLE, with effusion. "Glad you're staying on.
Wouldn't do to be Counted Out to-night."
ROLLIT, thinking he's got TEMPLE all right, walks off by front hall
door; TEMPLE, certain that ROLLIT will stay, executes strategic
retreat by corridor, leading past dining-room to central hall. Same
thing going on in a hundred other cases, "Must see this through," One
says to the Other. "By all means," the Other says to One. Then One and
the Other saunter out of the Lobby, quicken their steps when they get
into outer passage, and speed out of Palace Yard as quick as Hansom
would fly.
MARK STEWART still puffing away at the Fiars; House gradually
emptying, till no one left but the LORD ADVOCATE and GEORGE CAMPBELL.
Presently CAMPBELL strides forth. Somebody moves that LORD ADVOCATE
be Counted. SPEAKER finds he's not forty. ("I'm really forty-five, you
know," LORD ADVOCATE pleads.) No Quorum. So at a quarter past eight
House Counted Out. "Hard on you, STEWART," the LORD ADVOCATE said,
as the two walked through the deserted chamber. "Must have spent good
deal of trouble on your speech. Subject so interesting, too; pity
to lose it; advise you to have it printed in leaflet form, and
distributed. So in your ashes would live your wo
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