Scarcely had Mr.Gladstone sat down when Mr.Mellor called upon Sir Richard Temple, then cried "Order, order!" and, almost within a couple of seconds after Mr.Gladstone had concluded, had vanished from the House.

This was immediately followed by the stampede of the rest of the House--for by half-past eight everybody was famished with hunger--and the Chamber was left empty, silent, and dim, with a suddenness that was startling, disconcerting, and a little disillusioning.

And then it was that the strongest proof was given of the effect of the speech.
[Sidenote: The outburst.] The House, I say, became empty--but not altogether.

The Irish Benches, which had become crowded as the great apology for Ireland was being pronounced, remained still full--full, but silent.

There was something strange, weird, startling in those benches, full and yet silent, amid all this emptiness and almost audible stillness; and some of the Liberal members, who had left the House in the mad rush to dinner, quietly stole back to see what was going to happen.