Perhaps their indignation was a little mitigated by the fact which Sir Charles Dilke brought out with such clearness, that Lord Salisbury was just as deeply committed to the eventual evacuation of Egypt as any other public man.
[Sidenote: An awkward situation.] It was curious to watch the House of Commons during this debate.

There is no doubt that a very awkward situation was before that assembly.

On the one hand, there were the interests of the country--as they are understood by the Tory party; on the other, there was a very difficult party situation--a situation difficult enough to tempt even the most patriotic, self-denying, and impartial Tory to gaze on the Liberal leaders opposite with a certain amount of mischievous curiosity.

How was Mr.Gladstone going to make a speech which would fulfil those extremely diverse purposes?
First, leave the door open for a continued stay for some time longer, and at the same moment for final evacuation; secondly, please Sir Wm.

Harcourt on the one side, and Lord Rosebery on the other; thirdly, keep together a party which ranges from the strong foreign policy of moderate men to the ultra-nonintervention of Mr.Labouchere.
Mr.Gladstone had, however, to do a good deal more than this.