It is impossible to imagine that any man who assumes
such garments could be otherwise than a severe and sanguinary
doctrinaire, anxious for his neighbours' blood. The genial smile with
which the House of Commons has become familiar has invalidated the Tory
estimate of Mr. Morley, but it was that memorable Thursday that
completed the transformation of judgment. No man could be a lover of the
guillotine who could wear so airy, so gay, and, above all, so juvenile
and well-cut a suit of clothes. Mr. Morley himself was overwhelmed with
the amount of attention which his new suit attracted. He, poor man, did
not see the portentous political significance of the transaction, and
almost sank under the multitude and variety of congratulations which he
received from watchful friends. He has done many great and successful
things in the course of his brilliant career--but he never achieved a
triumph so complete and so prompt as he did when he put on his light
tweed suit, and steered under its illuminating rays the Home Rule Bill
through the rocks and shoals, the eddies and the cross-currents of the
House of Commons.
[Sidenote: A brilliant pas de deux.
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