The Chairman:
“Will the honourable member—”
“No, he won’t!” screamed Parson, with the steam well up; “and he’s not going to! I’ve got a right to be heard—we’ve all got a right to be heard, and we’re going to be heard, what’s more! (Tremendous cheers from the club.) We’re all equal here, aren’t we, you chaps?” (“Rather!”)
Here Fairbairn rose to order, but Parson was too quick for him.
“No, no!” he cried, “we don’t want any of your jaw! We’re not going to be shut up by you! We’re a party, I tell you, and we’re bound to stick out!” (“Hear, hear,” from Bosher.) “We expected you’d be trying to sit on us, but we made up our minds we won’t be sat on! (Prolonged cheers.) I’ve not begun my speech yet—(laughter)—and I don’t mean to till you hold your rows!”
Here there were loud cries of “Order” from various parts of the House, which, however, only served to inspirit the speaker, who proceeded at the top of his voice, “It’s no use your going on like that. (I say, you chaps,” added he, turning round to his companions, “back me up, I’m getting husky.) You think we’re a lot of fools—”
(“We’re a lot of fools!” chimed in the chorus, by way of backing up their orator.)
“But we’re not as green as we look!”
(“Green as we look!”)
“You all seem to think it funny!”