We divided seventeen times, and between every division this vexatious Irishman made us a speech of apologies and self-condemnation.

Of the two who had supported him at the beginning of his freak one soon sneaked away.

The other, Sibthorpe, stayed to the last, not expressing remorse like Shaw, but glorying in the unaccommodating temper he showed and in the delay which he produced.

At last the bill went through.

Then Shaw rose; congratulated himself that his vow was accomplished; said that the only atonement he could make for conduct so unjustifiable was to vow that he would never make such a vow again; promised to let the bill go through its future stages without any more divisions; and contented himself with suggesting one or two alterations in the details.