But there were consolations. Squire of Malwood, asked by Prince Arthur what he now thought of prospects of reading Home-Rule Bill Second Time before Easter, admitted impossibility; triumphant shout from Opposition. Not in vain had they sat through morning sitting on Friday discussing the hour at which they should adjourn on Saturday. Not without recompense had they taken care that when Saturday came it should see accomplished the minimum of business. Tussling with Mr. G. ever since Session opened; in first rounds he came off best; drew first blood; seemed likely to carry everything with him; Opposition pulled themselves together; went at it hammer and tongs; and now it is Mr. G. who has retired to corner; the sponge is in requisition on the Treasury Bench; the air around it redolent of the perfume of the indispensable vinegar.
"Guinness will go up a point or two on this," said Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, Knight, who has taken Irish securities under his wing. "Go down a pint or two, you mean," said Wilfrid Lawson, who is irreclaimable.
Business done.—Attack on Justice Mathew and Evicted Tenants' Commission repulsed by 287 Votes against 250.
Tuesday.—Squire of Malwood a changed man. No longer the light-hearted, sometimes almost frivolous youth who through six years sat on Front Opposition Bench, and girded at the Unionist Government. A Minister himself now; Mr. G.'s right-hand man; First Lieutenant of the Ship of State; acting Captain when, as happens just now, Mr. G. temporarily turned in. Once this afternoon something of old spirit stirred within him when Howard Vincent (as he said) used the Stationary Vote as a peg on which to hang Protection heresies. But, for most part, he sits silent and self-communing, saying nothing, but, probably, like the parrot of old, thinking the more. In Conservative ranks feeling of profound respect growing in his favour. Curious to hear them say, "Ah! if everyone on Treasury Bench bore himself like Harcourt, things would be different." Even the blameless Bryce is held up to contumely in contrast with mild-mannered Master of Malwood. As for Charles Russell, after his speech last night, good Conservatives, following an Eastern custom, well enough in its place, spit when they mention his name. For them the model of all Parliamentary virtue is the Squire of Malwood.
Don't know how long this passion of appreciation will last; interesting to observe while yet with us. A lull all round in sympathy with soothing moments of Chancellor of Exchequer. Even J. W. Lowther's perturbed mind at rest. Knows now, to a fraction, how many lead-pencils are annually in use in directing destinies of British Empire. Rumour current that origin of this inquiry was a little undertaking promoted by Hon. Member in substitution of proscribed word-guessing competitions. Sweep got up; £5 entry; every man to guess at precise figure of lead-pencil census; the one coming nearest to clear the pool. Lowther tells me not word of truth in report. In putting his question as to number of lead-pencils in use, and in sticking to it in spite of jeers of bystanders and guilty reticence of Minister, he was actuated simply by motives of public policy; desired, in short, to live up to standard of late lamented Leader and do his duty to his Queen and Country.
Business done.—Great lead-pencil question settled. Excited House Counted Out at 9.20.
"Back!! Rasch intruder!"
Thursday Night.—House dying to know what Major Frederick Carne Rasch had to say on Navy Estimates. Not being Major of Marines, initial difficulty is to imagine what he did in this galley. If it had been the Army, or even the Militia, the Major would have seemed all right. But what had he to do with the Navy? That, however, is for the Major a minor point. "You Carne be too Rasch when attacking this Government," said Kenyon, with his pretty elliptical speech.
It was half-past ten, and a dull night. Navy Estimates been talked round for nearly five hours. Squire of Malwood meekly hoped that a Vote would now be taken; Dicky Temple presented himself at footlights with bewitching smile on his lips and elegantly bound gilt-edged volume under his arm; bowed to audience; opened volume; proceeding to offer few remarks when Squire swooped down on him with Closure.