But he was ready for the conflict, and as the night went on showed there was no decrease in either the venom or the vehemence with which he means to fight against the Home Rule Bill.

On the Irish Benches nearly every man was in his place, and the Tories had so far benefited by their buffetings from the _Times_ as to make a braver show than they usually do in the early days after vacation.
[Sidenote: Home Rule once more.] When the House separated, the subject under debate was an audacious proposal to postpone Clause 3.

There was nothing whatever to be urged in favour of such a proposal; it was pure, unadulterated, shameless obstruction.

But Sir Richard Temple is not gifted with a sense of humour, and on this amendment he wandered and maundered away for the better part of an hour.

The House has yet no power to prevent a bore from consuming its time; but it is free to save itself from the yoke of attention.