Failing that, he felt sure that at least someone would call him "this eminent old gentleman," and even that was better than staying at home.
But for the most part the audience was composed of women, and they sat in a little buzz of conversation waiting for Mr.Yahi-Bahi.
"I wonder," called Mrs.Buncomhearst from the chair, "if some lady would be good enough to write minutes?
Miss Snagg, I wonder if you would be kind enough to write minutes?
Could you ?" "I shall be delighted," said Miss Snagg, "but I'm afraid there's hardly time to write them before we begin, is there ?" "Oh, but it would be all right to write them _afterwards_," chorussed several ladies who understood such things; "it's quite often done that way." "And I should like to move that we vote a constitution," said a stout lady with a double eye-glass.
"Is that carried ?" said Mrs.Buncomhearst.

"All those in favour please signify." Nobody stirred.
"Carried," said the president.

"And perhaps you would be good enough, Mrs.Fyshe," she said, turning towards the stout lady, "to _write_ the constitution." "Do you think it necessary to _write_ it ?" said Mrs.Fyshe.

"I should like to move, if I may, that I almost wonder whether it is necessary to write the constitution--unless, of course, anybody thinks that we really ought to." "Ladies," said the president, "you have heard the motion.

All those against it--" There was no sign.
"All those in favour of it--" There was still no sign.
"Lost," she said.
Then, looking across at the clock on the mantel-piece, and realizing that Mr.Yahi-Bahi must have been delayed and that something must be done, she said: "And now, ladies, as we have in our midst a most eminent gentleman who probably has thought more deeply about constitutions than--" All eyes turned at once towards Judge Longerstill, but as fortune had it at this very moment Mr.Sikleigh Snoop entered, followed by Mr.
Yahi-Bahi and Mr.Ram Spudd.
Mr.Yahi-Bahi was tall.