The Prime Minister became "The Primisther," the Chief Secretary the "Cheesesecry," and all this impotence was made the more manifest by thundering on the box with his open hand--in short, it was all inarticulate, painful, perplexing emptiness, weakened and not fortified by prolific tub-thumping.

A poor--sad--nay, a tragic business.
[Sidenote: The young man and the old.] Such was the young man; and then came the old.

To all this inarticulate, hoarse, stammering passion, Mr.Gladstone opposed a speech gentle, persuasive, self-possessed; as admirable in its courtesy as in its reserve of gigantic strength.

With the deadly pallor of his face more remarkable than ever--the white hair shining out, as it were, with the peaceful suggestion of calm and strong old age--in a voice, low, soft, gentle--Mr.Gladstone uttered a few words which revealed all the great depths.

In completely quiet, almost inaudible tones, he uttered these pregnant words: "As to other passages in the noble lord's speech, I do not know whether he intended to intimidate me; but if he did, I do not think he will succeed." There they are--these few words--so simple, plain, even commonplace; but what a history--what a character--what a grandeur there is behind and beneath them! So splendid are they that even Lord Randolph is touched to the quick, and he rises to explain.