]
It must have been a disappointment to him--it was certainly a
disappointment to his many friends--that he was not a member of the
Ministry which he did so much to bring into existence. But the very day
the House met after the formation of the Government, Labby was in his
old place on the front bench below the gangway as if nothing had
occurred--just as ready as ever to take his share in the proceedings of
the House of Commons. And every succeeding evening saw him in his
place--listening with commendable piety to the exhortations of Holy
Writ--given forth in the fine resonant voice of Archdeacon Farrar--ready
to seize a point--to take advantage of a situation, eagerly interested
in everything that is going on. Some people may regard this as a very
common gift. It is nothing of the kind. I know no place in the world
which is a severer test of a man's tenacity of purpose, than the House
of Commons. I suppose it is because we see the men more publicly there
than elsewhere; but I know no place where there are so many ups and
downs of human destiny as in the House of Commons--no place, at all
events, where one is so struck with the changes, and transformations of
human destinies.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156