“It’s only postponed, TOBY,” he said, wearily, CAMERON (having accidentally touched the wrong button) being promptly carried off to bed in the middle of a sentence; “they’ll be at me again to-morrow, and will begin once more, like giants refreshed, when they come back from the holidays.  It’s an old story; the House of Commons must always have its whipping-boy.  Don’t know whether you’ve sat long enough for Barks to remember AYRTON?  A dead set was made against him, and he was not only driven out of office, but forth from public life.  It’s generally the HOME SECRETARY who is fastened on.  There was WALPOLE, chronically reduced to tears.  BRUCE was chivied by the cabmen, and had his hat blocked by the publicans.  The blameless HARCOURT didn’t go scot free whilst he was at the Home Office.  MATTHEWS has had a long run, with the hounds after him.  Now they’ve turned aside from him, and are yelping after me.  It’s very well for MATTHEWS, but a little worrying for me.  Of course I don’t claim to be perfect.  As HARCOURT once admitted of himself, I’m almost human, I try to do my duty, and protect the interests of Department committed to my charge.  They come in touch with all classes, and naturally there is friction.  Just now the howling is persistent, and, I fancy, organised.  Perhaps it’ll fall away by-and-by.  In the meanwhile, it’s rather wearing, so pitilessly monotonous.  As you said the other day, a new constitutional maxim has been established.  Once OLD MORALITY used to write in his copybook, ‘The QUEEN can Do no Wrong.’  Now he may add this other, ‘The POSTMASTER-GENERAL Does Nothing Right.’” Business done.—­Miscellaneous.

Tuesday Afternoon.—­Winding up business before holiday; rather a scramble at the end.  OLD MORALITY, as usual, piled up heap of work to be got through.  “Quite easy, you know,” he said.  “Tithes Bill, Electoral Disabilities Removal Bill, Savings Bank Bill, take them in your stride.  What does the poet say?  Line upon Line; Little by Little; Here to-day and gone To-morrow.  Those are the sound economical principles that should guide a man through life.”

At one time seemed that whilst we were certainly here to-day, we wouldn’t be gone till to-morrow.  Tithe Bill in last stage took a lot of fighting over.  House wouldn’t have Electoral Disabilities Removal Bill or the Savings Bank Bill at any price.

“Then I’ll move the adjournment,” paid OLD MORALITY, in despair.

[Illustration:  “Stole Away!”]

“Not till you’ve heard my speech,” said Dr. CLARK; pulled out manuscript from breast coat-pocket, began descanting on the under-pay of Civil Servants in Scotland, whilst TYSSEN AMHERST folded his tent like the Arab, and as silently stole away.  Example followed generally by Members in all parts of the House.  CLARK thoroughly enjoying himself, composedly went on to end of speech, and then adjournment.  SPEAKER “kept in” till Thursday to take part in ceremony of Royal Commission.  Rest off, and won’t be back till Monday, 6th of April.