Shortly before ten o'clock Mr.
Morley rose to make his reply.

It was twenty minutes to ten when he rose.

It was close upon midnight when he sate down.

And yet there wasn't one word too many--indeed, Mr.Morley might have gone even longer without wearying the House, for it was a speech which, although not free from some of the besetting weaknesses of his oratory, was an eloquent, impressive and convincing addition to the great argument on the Irish question.

Giving himself a certain freedom--departing from the over-severe self-restraint which he so often imposes upon himself--abandoning the frigidity of manner which conceals from so many people his warmth of heart and of temper, he spoke with a go, a fire and a force of attack not very common with him.