He, however, rejoiced greatly that this earliest opportunity had been afforded to him of explaining the intentions of the Government with which he had the honour of being connected.

In answer to this there arose a perfect torrent of almost vituperative antagonism from the opposite side of the House.

Did the Right Honourable gentleman dare to say that the question had been ventilated in the country, when it had never been broached by him or any of his followers till after the general election had been completed?
Was it not notorious to the country that the first hint of it had been given when the Right Honourable gentleman was elected for East Barsetshire, and was it not equally notorious that that election had been so arranged that the marvellous proposition of the Right Honourable gentleman should not be known even to his own party till there remained no possibility of the expression of any condemnation from the hustings?
It might be that the Right Honourable could so rule his own followers in that House as to carry them with him even in a matter so absolutely opposite to their own most cherished convictions.

It certainly seemed that he had succeeded in doing so for the present.

But would any one believe that he would have carried the country, had he dared to face the country with such a measure in his hands?
Ventilation, indeed! He had not dared to ventilate his proposition.