There wasn't really the smallest necessity for his presence.
Nothing stood on the paper save one of those harmless, futile motions which are discussed with about as much interest by the House generally, as "abstract love"-- to use a bold figure of Labby in a recent debate.
It was a motion which complained that private members did not get sufficient time.

Considering that private members had used their privileges for some two weeks previously to destroy the very foundation of all representative Government--namely, that the majority shall prevail--the complaint seemed a little audacious.

Anyhow, a debate upon it could lead nowhere.

But the moment the resolution was proposed, up stood the Grand Old Man, and delivered a bright, sparkling little academical address, for all the world like the lecture of a very _spirituel_ French professor to a parcel of boys from the Quartier Latin.

For the moment you could actually imagine that the Old Man had forgotten that there were such things in the world as Home Rule, Obstruction, Newmarket Lowther, and Brummagem Joe.