Some member standing in the Ladies' Gallery said to Lady Horace when Blake sat down, "Well, now, Lady Horace, whether we like it or whether we don't, I think we must call that a great speech."
Sir James Garfit rose at once, thus paying the quite unusual tribute to Mr. Blake's speech by rising at that period of the evening to reply to a new member. When the Premier began his speech, Elsie's interest in the debate collapsed.
Lord Horace, who was in the men's gallery, separated from that in which his wife and Elsie sat, leaned excitedly over the railing.
"I say, Elsie, Blake's stunnin'. I wish it was our man. In the face of that there's no use in consoling ourselves with the reflection that dear Frank is safe and respectable."
A little later Elsie knew almost without turning round that Blake had come into the gallery and was behind her. She turned to him in her quick, impulsive way, and said, "Oh, why didn't you tell me you could speak like that?"
"Did I do it well, really?"
"Yes, splendidly," she said. "The House felt it. I never heard a real speech before."
"I'm glad of that," he said, quietly bending over her—"glad, that is, that you were pleased. I wanted to please you."
There was a short interval, in which the House emptied, and the party in the Ladies' Gallery went out and snatched a short dinner at an hotel not far off. After they came back the debate droned dully on. Blake came up again, and lingered in the gallery. Most of the time he talked in whispers to Elsie, and more than once Lady Garfit turned angrily and frowned on him.
It was now nine o'clock.
"I am sorry," said Blake, "that there is no terrace here, where I can ask you to come and have coffee."
"No terrace?" repeated Ina, vaguely.
Lord Horace, who had caught the remark, looked annoyed. "Blake means the terrace of the House of Com-
