Mr.Morley had to address a few words of hearty congratulation to Mr.Austen Chamberlain on his very successful speech.
He spoke with the slowness, hesitation, and effort that betrayed a certain glimpse of the pain and grief that the political separations of life produce in all but the hardest and coldest natures.

It was a graceful, generous, feeling tribute, but it did not soften Mr.
Chamberlain--the same steady unlifting frown was there--the same "puss"-- and when Mr.Morley had finished, there was a repetition of the evidently scornful comment of Mr.Chamberlain.
[Sidenote: A hit at Mr.Chamberlain.] But Mr.Morley may well bear all this, for he was able to strike some very effective blows at Mr.Chamberlain, and Mr.Chamberlain for a hard-hitter has a wonderfully keen appreciation and a very sensitive skin for anything like a dexterous hit at his own expense.

Alluding to the favourite argument of Mr.Chamberlain, that the speeches of Irish members in the past may have been deplorable, Mr.Morley asked were they the only people who had made such speeches?
They might be repentant sinners, but who so great a prodigal as the member for Birmingham?
The loud and triumphant laughter which this produced at the expense of Mr.
Chamberlain, was followed up by another even more victorious thrust.

The Irish members had abandoned prairie value in the same way as the member for Birmingham had surrendered the doctrines of "ransom" and natural rights.

Mr.Chamberlain was very uncomfortable, and soon showed it by an interrupting cheer.