On the other side of the House there sat Labby--full of that dogged, immutable Radicalism which will make no distinction between Liberal and Tory when his principles of foreign policy are at stake; and he was ready to pounce upon the Prime Minister if he had detected any departure from the narrow and straight path which leads to Radical salvation.

In the background were the dim forces of Unionism, more eager--perhaps even more reckless--in readiness to attack Mr.Gladstone than his opponents on the opposite benches.

And behind them and above them, in all parts of the House, was that countless host of busybodies, bores and specialists who see in Egypt an opportunity of airing fads, fanaticism, or vanities.
[Sidenote: A great eirenicon.] The paper which contained the list of pairs for the night was crammed with the names of members from both sides, who, anticipating a debate of hours' duration, had wisely resolved to spend the interval between the motion and a division in the bosoms of their families--miles away from the floor of the House of Commons.

The Whips had prepared their followers for a big division somewhere about midnight.

And, lo! on all this vast and turbulent sea of conflicting waves the Prime Minister poured half an hour of oratorical oil, and the waters were stilled, and the great deep at perfect rest.