"Joe's not far off," said Tim Healy, grimly. "In times like these sends Jesse on ahead, like the pilot-engine that goes before Czar's train. If there were any murderous plot on hand, by Justin McCarthy or any other brigand, the blameless figure of Jesse would be blown into space, and Joseph would proceed on his journey with his hair unsinged."
On stroke of half-past three Squire of Malwood made formal announcement of familiar fact that Government had resigned; The Markiss had been sent for; Ministers kept their places only till their successors were appointed.
"I would ask leave to say," the Squire, with unwonted tremor in his voice, observed, bringing to close his brief, business-like speech, "that for every man who has taken part in the noble conflict of Parliamentary life, the chiefest of all ambitions, whether in a majority or in a minority, must be to stand well with the House of Commons."
How in this respect the Leader of the House through two Sessions of peculiar difficulty stands with both tides, testified to by a ringing cheer, repeated when Prince Arthur, who always does these things well, voiced the common feeling as he recognised in the blushing Squire "one of the greatest ornaments of this House."
"That's all very well, Toby," said the Squire, when I offered him my congratulations on deliverance from a situation long become intolerable. "You put it prettily. But I hope the experience of the last fortnight will be a lesson to you. You hadn't been gone a week and two days when the cordite bomb was exploded. Never forget what you must have learned in your nursery kennel:
When the dog's away,
The rats will play."
Their New Suits.
Admiral G-sch-n. "Oh, I say, Joey old man, what a comical costume! It does make me laugh!"