of Mr. Duignan, which, he claimed, justified his account. Several
attempts were made to stop Mr. Harrington, and the Tories during this
were decidedly annoyed and embarrassed because Mr. Chamberlain happened
not to be in his place. But doggedly and persistently Mr. Harrington
held to his ground, and at last the Speaker allowed him to read the
letter. The reading of the letter led to various scenes, because it was
one of those balanced utterances in which Mr. Chamberlain used to try to
hold one foot in the Unionist and to place the other in the Home Rule
camp. There were speeches about the County Councils, and there had been
Unionist and Tory cheers in relief; but when immediately afterwards
there were allusions to Home Rule, very little different in scope or
character from that proposed by Mr. Gladstone, there was a triumphant
rejoinder from the Liberal and Home Rule Benches. Austen Chamberlain,
excited, nervous, angered, flitted to and fro in the attempt to gather
forces to defend his absent parent. At last Mr. Courtney took up his
case. There was not very much in what he said, and while he was speaking
Mr. Chamberlain entered the House. He was pale, excited, and unnerved.
He endeavoured to carry the whole thing by a jauntiness which was too
easy to see through. Mr. Courtney had been waving furiously a telegram
towards the Speaker, and asked that he might have the privilege of
reading it. Austen Chamberlain snatched the telegram from Mr. Courtney,
and gave it to his father just as he had taken his seat. Mr. Chamberlain
had not a moment to spare; he had just time to glance at the contents of
the telegram when he rose to speak, and all he did was to read the
telegram, which was a confirmation by Mr. Duignan of the general
accuracy of the previous evening. This was a score for Joe, and his
friends were delighted to recover something of their lost spirit.

[Mr. Conybeare and the Speaker.]

Mr. Conybeare had written a letter to the _Chronicle_ denouncing the
Speaker. Mr. Tritton, a Tory member, insisted the letter should be read,
and this gave the Speaker one of those few opportunities which his
position allows him. In disclaiming this charge he showed his great
powers of oratory and the splendid and thrilling notes of his fine
voice. He defended himself at once from the charge of undue partiality
with strong passion and deep emotion, which lie hidden beneath his deep
reserve. With a face ghastly almost in its greyness, in