"Parturiunt montes," said Herbert Maxwell, wearily looking round as Griffith-Boscawen followed John Ellis and Jesse Collings succeeded Francis Stevenson; "nascitur ridiculus mus."
And so it was. Particular mountain at work when the mouse appeared was J. W. Lowther. Mouse entered from behind Speaker's Chair; leisurely proceeded along passage between Front Opposition Bench and table at which J. W. was speaking disrespectfully of Jesse Collings. Halted by Prince Arthur's empty seat; nibbled fibre of matting in remonstrance at his absence; passed round fearlessly by J. W.'s heels; sat for moment in full view of House listening attentively to J. W.'s argument; yawned and sauntered back the way it came. Interest in debate evidently keener than that of average Member. As soon as Acland's voice reverberated through almost empty Chamber, mouse observed strolling back along familiar way; took its seat on floor under shadow of Mace in defiance of all Parliamentary rule; followed Acland's argument with evidently keen interest. Interrupted by approach of Richard Temple. Quickly looking up and catching sight of his stately figure bowing to Speaker, mouse fled like the wind, in its terror making off by Treasury Bench, finally escaping by another exit.
"Cogitato" said Herbert Maxwell, who breakfasts every morning off a plate of porridge and a page of Plautus,—
"Cogitato, mus pusillus quam sit sapiens bestia,
Ætatem qui uni cubili nunquam committit suam."
Business done.—Pension of £4,000 a year voted to Arthur Wellesley Peel, late Speaker.
Fancy Picture of Sir Thomas Esmonde bringing forward Queen "Lily o' Killarney" Hawaii.
Thursday.—All very well for gay young Irish baronet like Esmonde to champion cause of errant Queens throned in summer seas. Expected other things from The MacGregor. House quite shocked when he interposed just now. Esmonde asked Edward Grey whether Government could do anything to obtain proper treatment for Queen of Hawaii. Before Under Secretary could reply, The MacGregor, suddenly leaping across dyke as it were, interposed. "As I happen to know the lady who was formerly Queen of Hawaii," said The MacGregor, and so proceeded to back up Esmonde's plea. Offhand way in which reference was made suggested illimitable possibilities, The MacGregor just "happened to know" this Queen, probably one of a bevy. On some quiet night House might hope to hear paper read by The MacGregor on "Queens I Have Known."
Sark curiously anxious as to where the acquaintance was made, and how it was nurtured. Did The MacGregor vaccinate Her Majesty whilst he, still in public capacity, sojourned at Penrith? Was she an inmate of Peebles Hydropathic Institute what time he was resident physician? or did he minister to her at the Barnhill Hospital and Asylum, Glasgow, of which, before he took to Imperial politics, he was superintendent? Pleasanter still to think of The MacGregor and the Queen with the musical name wandering hand in hand amid the orange groves of sea-girt Hawaii, breakfasting on the bountiful bread-fruit, lunching off the succulent yam. Did he in those days call her so much as Liliuokalani? or did he venture on the diminutive Lili? Sark had better give notice of these questions. Business done.—Fresh Ministerial Bills brought in with both hands.