There was a time when he rarely came to the House to deliver a great speech without a little bottle--such as one sees containing pomade on the dressing-table of the thin-haired bachelor.

Of late, the pomade-bottle has disappeared.

The G.O.M.is now content to take the ordinary glass of water.

It is very seldom that he requires even that amount of sustenance during his great speeches.

However, he had been doing a good deal that day--he had already made a long speech to his supporters in the Foreign Office--and he required a glass of water.