Reading the G. O. M. to sleep.
Mundella nonplussed. Mr. G. knew all about it; would have answered right off and probably silenced even Tommy with proposition of counter manœuvre. But Marjoribanks kept relentless eye on him. Vote on Account must be got through Committee to-night. The less speaking the better; so with profound sigh Mr. G. resisted the temptation and composed himself to listen to Leng's paper on the prohibition of importation of live cattle from Canada. Here was opportunity of learning something which Mr. G. gratefully welcomed. Gradually, as the new knight went on reading extract after extract in level voice, remorselessly deliberate, Mr. G.'s eyes closed, his head drooped, and in full view of the crowded Strangers' Gallery he fell into peaceful, childlike slumber.
Business done.—Vote on Account passed Committee.
Friday.—Morning sitting devoted to miscellaneous talk around Ireland. Evening, a long Storey about iniquities of House of Lords. The evening and the morning a dull day. Had time to look over Mr. G.'s letter about retention of Irish Members. "What do you think of it?" I asked the Member for Sark. "Haven't read it," he said. "When I saw it was a column long, I knew Mr. G. didn't want to say anything that would be understood. When he does, a few lines suffice; when he doesn't, nothing less than a column of print will serve."
Business done.—Vote on Account through Report Stage.
France and Siam.—The situation at Bangkok will probably result in further Develle-opments.
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Transcriber's Note:
Sundry damaged or missing punctuation has been repaired.
The corrections listed below are also indicated in the text by a dashed line at the appropriate place: Move the mouse over the word, and the original text appears. Page 64: 'barometre' corrected to 'baromètre'. "Le baromètre—Beau fixe!" Page 65: 'Jung Frau' ... the author may have had something else in mind, besides the mountain (Jungfrau)? "Interlachen. Remember the Jung Frau and forget the tourists." Page 69: 'measeles' corrected to 'measles'. "attended two bankers and a Lord Mayor for measles," |