It certainly was the case that Lord
Drummond could not get on without Sir Timothy. But might it not be
possible that Sir Timothy should get on without Lord Drummond? If
so he must begin his action in that direction by resigning. He
would have to place his resignation, no doubt with infinite
regret, in the hands of Lord Drummond. But if such a step were to
be taken now, just as Parliament was about to assemble, what would
become of the Queen's speech, of the address, and of the noble
peers and noble and other commoners who were to propose and second
it in the two Houses of Parliament? There were those who said
that such a trick played at the last moment would be very shabby.
But then again there were those who foresaw that the shabbiness
would be made to rest anywhere than on the shoulders of Sir
Timothy. If it should turn out that he had striven manfully to
make things run smoothly,--that the Premier's incompetence, or the
Chancellor's obstinacy, or this or that Secretary's peculiarity of
temper had done it all;--might not Sir Timothy then be able to
emerge from the confused flood, and swim along pleasantly with his
head higher than ever above the waters?
In these great matters parliamentary management goes for so much!
If a man be really clever and handy at his trade, if he can work
hard and knows what he is about, if he can give and take and be
not thin-skinned or sore-boned, if he can ask pardon for a
peccadillo and seem to be sorry with a good grace, if above all
things he be able to surround himself with the prestige of
success, then so much will be forgiven him! Great gifts of
eloquence are hardly wanted, or a deep-seated patriotism which is
capable of strong indignation.
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