"What's the matter?" I asked. "Been listening to two hours' debate on Budget Bill in Committee?"

"Worse than that," said Hart Dyke. "Haven't you heard? Carmarthen, riding out on his bicycle, came by sudden turn on steam-roller. Bicycle shied; pitched Dolly off."

"Poor Dolly!" said John Penn, mopping his eye with a J pen-wiper. "He fell on his head."

Hart Dyke and Mark Lockwood (together)—"Oh, then he's not hurt." Sudden brightening of faces as load of apprehension removed from mind; walked off quite cheerfully.

Gracious, kind-hearted comrades! So pleasant, amid turmoil of political warfare, to come upon idyllic scene like this, and learn how sweet a thing is friendship.

Business done.—Budget Bill through Committee.

"Not for Jo-achim!"

["The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the right hon. member for St. George's had referred to the fact that this was leap year, and they all knew that in leap year proposals could be made that would be considered rather extraordinary in ordinary times. (Laughter.) To accept the right hon. gentleman's proposal would not be consistent with his duty."—Times.]