Business done.—Irish Land Bill introduced.
Tuesday.—Wolff at door of both Houses. In fact he's there every night now. Peers and Commons are Unionists in desire to know when the pic-nic will be over, or, as Bryce put it to-night amid cheers, "When will finally and positively terminate the unparalleled and undignified position in which the country is placed?" In Lords the Markiss disowned a capital retort the reporters invented for him. On Monday, Rosebery understood to ask whether Wolff was supposed to be in a state of suspended animation what time the Sultan made up his mind. The Markiss reported to have replied that Wolff was "rather in a state of animated expectancy." Capital capping of a joke, only it appears Markiss isn't personally responsible for it.
"£27,000!"
"It would," he said, with a wink at Granville, "be disrespectful to use language like that with respect to Her Majesty's Ambassador."
Herschel says, Markiss is only mad because he didn't think of it at the time, and is jealous of the more nimble fancy of the reporters. In the Commons, Bryce announces that he will continue nightly to inquire about Wolff till he gets satisfactory answers.
A hot dull night and the Irish Land Bill again. John Dillon had the best of it, delivering a lively speech to full audience. After this, Members began to go to dinner, and forgot to return. A full muster on both Front Benches. Gladstone again in summer costume, with a rose in his coat and a gleam in his eye. Has grown ten years younger in the last fortnight. Spalding wiped off five years, North Paddington two, and Coventry the rest.
"A few more triumphs at the poll," says John Morley, "and he'll be younger than any of us."
After dinner, Gorst made a speech on behalf of Bill. Shrewd, pointed, and weighty with argument. "Another proof of fatuity of Government," said Parnell, who has come back in a brown billycock hat, "that they don't make more use of Gorst. Worth a bushelful of Georgy Hamiltons, Gibsons, Matthewses, or even Smiths."
When spirits of House properly attuned, H. C. E. Childers appeared on the scene, and delivered prodigious speech, through which the few Members present gently dozed.