We all know what that means." "A thorough-paced reformer--" "Never mind your paces, man; but get on.

Tell us something new.

We're all reformers, we are." Poor Mr Moffat was a little thrown back.

It wasn't so easy to tell these gentlemen anything new, harnessed as he was at this moment; so he looked back at his honourable supporter for some further hint.
"Say something about their daughters," whispered George, whose own flights of oratory were always on that subject.

Had he counselled Mr Moffat to say a word or two about the tides, his advice would not have been less to the purpose.
"Gentlemen," he began again--"you all know that I am a thorough-paced reformer--" "Oh, drat your reform.