like to say a kind word to a man when I can.

_Business done._--Land Purchase Bill again.

_Tuesday._--Fight on Land Purchase Bill been going forward again at
Morning Sitting; rather dull, though enlivened by speech from PLUNKET,
who once more reminded House how much it loses by his habitual silence.
At Evening Sitting GRANDOLPH came on with his Licensing Bill. Let eager
politicians and ambitious statesmen arm themselves for combat in the
field of high politics; GRANDOLPH'S only desire is to do a little good
in the world whilst yet he lingers on this level. Nothing new in crusade
against drink. No _kudos_ to be gained; no acclaim of the multitude to
ring in the pleased ear; no cheering clash of party conflict. GRANDOLPH
gives a deprecating twirl to his modest moustache, and takes up his
homely parable. Possibly he does this with the larger content, since he
had his go at the Land Purchase Bill before Debate on Second Reading
opened. His letters, published on eve of Easter recess, hurtled
pleasantly around the heads of his esteemed friends on Treasury Bench.
Could not say anything more or anything better if he joined in debate;
so sits silent through Morning Sitting, and when the shades of evening
fall, he meekly lifts up his voice, expounding a measure of domestic
legislation fraught with permanent interest to the masses.

"A most promising member of the Band of Hope," says WILFRED LAWSON,
regarding GRANDOLPH with fatherly kindness. "Wonder if I might ask him
to crack a bottle of ginger-beer with me. Will certainly proffer the
hospitality if I get a chance."

[Illustration: "I'm not nearly so innocent as I look."]

The grand young GARDNER (_and_ his wife; can complete quotation now)
back again after wedding trip. Doesn't look quite so brisk as the
average bridegroom. "Fact is, old fellow," he said, as I condoled with
him, "when I said I would die a bachelor, I never thought I would live
to be married, go off on a wedding trip, catch the influenza at
Innsbruck, the measles at Milan, the scarlatina at Samarcand, and the
malaria at Mentone."

_Business done._--Morning Sitting, Irish Land Purchase Bill; Evening,
GRANDOLPH'S Licensing Bill read First Time.

_Thursday._--Ordinarily amicable proceedings in debate on Irish Land
Purchase Bill varied by accidental but unhappy circumstances. Prince
ARTHUR in course of speech happened to say, that "under Bill of 1886
Irish Government was supposed to be a buffer between the