But it took the House--at least, it took the Tories; and, after all, what party orators who have not the responsibilities of office have to do, is to get cheers and embarrass the Government.
[Sidenote: Another hymn to the G.O.M.] The reader must not be either exasperated or bored if he finds continuous mention of the G.O.M.in these pages, for he is, to a great extent, the House of Commons.

I remember hearing Mrs.Gladstone once use of her distinguished husband a phrase which gave tersely and simply a complete idea of a side of his character.

It was just before his historic visit to Birmingham, and there was anxiety as to the vast size of the great Bingley Hall in which it had been decided he was to speak.
"He has such heart," said Mrs.Gladstone of her husband--meaning that whatever was the size of the hall, he would do his best, at whatever cost, to fill it with his voice.

It is this mighty heart of his which carries him through everything, and which largely accounts for the hold he has over the imaginations and hearts of the masses.

Well, one can see proof of this in his conduct whenever he is leader of a Government.
Other Prime Ministers and leaders of the House are only too willing to leave as much of the work as possible to their subordinates.