ng, heavily-built, blustering kind of fellow; great, it is
said, on the abusive Tory platform, almost dumb and utterly impotent in
the House of Commons. These were the vanguard of the Orange army, and
they proceeded to appropriate the first and best seats they could lay
their hands upon.

[Sidenote: Dr. Tanner and his waistcoat.]

Dr. Tanner, soon after this, appeared blazing on the scene; and sorrow
came upon him that any of the enemy should have forestalled him. Like
Mr. Johnson, Tanner is a Protestant--but, unlike him, is as fiercely
Nationalist as the other is Orange; and, whenever the waves are
disturbed by the Parliamentary storm, Tanner is pretty sure to be heard
of and from. Viewing the scene of battle strategically, Tanner struck on
an idea which was certainly original. Accounts differ as to whether he
was the possessor of one hat or several; but tradition would suggest
that he had more than one. It is certain, however, that he did take off
his coat and waistcoat; and stretching these across the unclaimed land
of seats, did thereby signify to all mankind that the seats thus
decorated were his. But the novel form of appropriation--it suggests a
wrinkle to prospectors in mining countries--was held to be illegal; and
the poor doctor had to content himself with using the hat, or hats, as a
means of securing seats.

[Sidenote: Colonel Saunderson.]

Colonel Saunderson--another of the Orange army of fire-eaters--was early
at the trysting-place; and this brought about one of the curiosities of
the sitting. On the first seat below the gangway sat Dr. Tanner; on the
very next seat, as close to him as one sardine to another in a box, sat
Colonel Saunderson. Not for worlds would these two men exchange a
syllable; indeed, it was a relief to most people to find that they did
not break out into oaths and blows. What rendered the situation worse,
was that Dr. Tanner has a fine exuberant habit of expressing his
opinions for the benefit of all around him. At his back sat William
O'Brien, with his keen thin face, his eyes full of latent fire, his
stern, set jaw--his glasses suggesting the student and philosopher, who
is always the most perilous and fierce of politicians; and to William
O'Brien, Tanner made a running and biting commentary on the speeches--a
commentary, as can easily be guessed, from the extreme National point of
view. This was the music to which the Orange Colonel had to listen
through the long hours that stre