“No,” he said, “they would think I was going to move or second the Address.  Should like to get used to the clothes a little before appearing in them in public places.”

So go back to House myself, leaving the Lord Warden marching up and down, making believe he is on the ramparts at Walmer.  Oddly enough, when I arrive Windbag SEXTON making a speech, the few Members present talking about Old MORALITY’s promotion.  A dangerous epoch in a man’s life.  People apt just then to discover all kinds of shortcomings, and reasons why the promotion should have fallen elsewhere.  But no one grudges OLD MORALITY this high and ancient honour; a fresh chapter in the pleasant story of “Mr. SMITH,” a new “Part of His Life.”  For five years he has sat on the Treasury Bench in succession to DISRAELI and GLADSTONE; now he will answer for the safety of the Cinque Ports in succession to PITT and WELLINGTON, DALHOUSIE and PALMERSTON. Business done.—­OLD MORALITY made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

Thursday.—­“TAY PAY also among the Gentlemen of England!” exclaimed SAGE OF QUEEN ANNE’S GATE, for once almost moved out of his customary self-possession.  It certainly seems so.  Came about on Second Reading of London Tramways Bill; promoters want to bring tramway over Westminster Bridge, and along Embankment.  DEMOS desires to go about his business on the tramway, and does not see why he should be arbitrarily stopped before he has accomplished his journey.  Carriage folk say, No; let DEMOS and his penny tram stop at other side of the water, leaving the broad thoroughfare of the Embankment for what RADCLIFFE COOKE called “the gilded chariot.”

Debate gone forward for some time.  No one expected to find TAY PAY in this Galley.  Since his return from Ameriky hasn’t opened his voice in debate; spoken in public only once.  That was to his constituents in Scotland Road, Liverpool; announced with portentous blast in advance that then and there the anxious world should learn what side he took in the leadership controversy.  Others had declared themselves, whether for Brer FOX or Brer RABBIT.  The momentous issue of TAY PAY’s decision required further deliberation.  So all the world had to wait till TAY PAY came home and saw his constituents.  Result not altogether satisfactory.  As TIM HEALY put it, “TAY PAY showed disposition to hunt with Brer FOX and run with Brer RABBIT.”  If in the end Brer FOX won, nothing in TAY PAY’s Scotland Road speech need prevent him returning to his allegiance.  If Brer FOX remained under a cloud, he could jog along with Brer RABBIT.  Been careful not to spoil the little game by taking part in debate in House.

Now, on this London Tramways Bill, which touches neither Brer FOX nor Brer RABBIT, TAY PAY interposes.  Conservatives snort impatiently when he rises; cry aloud for division; take it for granted that TAY PAY will back up DEMOS’s demand for equal right of way.  But TAY PAY has genuine little surprise in store; is loftily contemptuous of tramways, doncha.  If they cross the bridge and approach the precincts of the West End, what is to become of carriage-folk?  “A noisy and inconvenient system of locomotion,” said TAY PAY, shuddering with disgust, as though he heard a coarse voice crying “Fares, please!”