Mr.Balfour was foolish enough to try and dot the "I's," and to put into Mr.Gladstone's mouth that which his enemies hoped he had said.

For Mr.Balfour, remarking that Mr.
Gladstone had made a more explicit declaration than any which had yet come from his lips--this was all right, and was quite true--went on to the further statement that the Old Man had now committed himself to standing or falling by the ninth clause "in its present shape." This, you will see, was the whole crux of the situation.

If Mr.Gladstone had said this, then, indeed, it might go hard with him by-and-bye, for whether the Liberal party would accept the ninth clause in its present shape was one of the questions yet to be decided.

The Old Man, however his words might have been open to this construction, had not in reality said anything of the kind.

And, at once, he was prompt to see how necessary it was to correct this error, for he immediately rose to his feet to say that he had never said anything of the sort.