"I have not been able," said Ritchie, with fine sarcasm, "to separate Wales from England in my own mind."
"Is Scotland in the Bill?" asked Anderson.
"No," said Old Morality.
"Then," said Tim Healy, "you separate Scotland in your own mind?" This was awkward; but the truth must be told, and Old Morality told it.
"I separate Scotland in my own mind," he said, in a voice low but firm.
Profound sensation on Ministerial Benches. Things looking bad for Ministry lately, what with Spalding, North Paddington, Coventry, and Miss Cass. But now, Leader of House having avowed himself a Separatist, outlook black indeed.
Elated with having brought out this damaging fact, Tim Healy went on rampage for rest of sitting. Arthur Balfour moved Second Reading of Irish Land Bill. Chamberlain, breaking long silence, delivered speech in support of measure. Tim kept up running commentary, growling, laughing spasmodically, and interjecting remarks. Chamberlain an ugly customer to tackle when at bay. Gave Tim as much as he brought. Wrangling getting a little high, when Speaker interposed, threatened to name Tim.
"Name away!" Tim sang out, cheerily; but knowing from experience that Speaker not to be trifled with, presently subsided.
On the whole a small House, and only whilst Chamberlain speaking any evidence of interest in proceedings. Next to the unexpected disclosure of Old Morality's falling away, most startling event of the evening was announcement by Ferguson that Wolff's pic-nic had already cost the country £27,000.
"£27,000!" exclaimed Coddington, making his maiden speech, and that sotto voce. "I'll undertake to say that if it had been proposed to him at first, Wolff would have taken the odd seven thousand and closed the bargain, leaving the tax-payer a clear gain of £20,000." And the Member for Blackburn softly whistled, and feebly rattled the loose change in his pocket.