ed by this applause, and, happy thought striking him, went on:
"But it is impossible for the Government to say what circumstances may
occur to qualify those views."

Once more Opposition break into storm of laughter; OLD MORALITY again
regards them with dubious questioning gaze.

"Curious thing, TOBY," he said to me afterwards, "those fellows
opposite always laugh when I drop in my most diplomatic sentences.
It's very well for MACHIAVELLI that he didn't live in these times,
and lead House of Commons instead of the Government of the Florentine
Republic. He would never have opened his mouth without those Radicals
and Irishmen going off into a fit of laughter."

_Business done_.--Announcement that business _won't_ be done.

_Friday_.--Still harping on Irish Votes. Want to dock Prince ARTHUR'S
salary. SWIFT MACNEILL brought down model of battering-ram used at
Falcarragh; holds it up; shows it in working order; Committee much
interested; inclined to encourage this sort of thing; pleasant
interlude in monotony of denunciation of Prince ARTHUR and all his
works; no knowing what developments may not be in store; the other
night had magic-lantern performance just off Terrace; that all very
well on fine night; but when it's raining must keep indoors and
battering-ram suitable for indoor exhibition.

HAVELOCK wanted to borrow it, says he would like to show SCHWANN how
it works; but MACNEILL couldn't spare it till Irish Votes through.

New turn given to Debate by plaintive declaration from JOHN DILLON
that he has "never been shadowed." "A difficult lot to deal with,"
says ARTHUR, gazing curiously at the Shadowless Man. "If they are
shadowed, they protest; if they're not, they repine."

_Business done_.--Irish Votes in Committee.

* * * * *

MR. PUNCH'S DICTIONARY OF PHRASES.

AT THE ACADEMY SOIREE.

"_How well your Picture bears the artificial light!_" i.e., "Couldn't
look worse than it does by daylight."

"_Mustn't keep you on the stairs. Such heaps of your friends asking
for you upstairs_;" i.e., "Got rid of him, thank goodness!"

"_Here you are at last! Been dodging you from room to room!_" i.e.,
"To keep out of your way. Caught at last, worse luck!"

"_You look as if you had just stepped out of a picture-frame!_" i.e.,
"Wish you'd step back into one!"

"_Not seen Mr. O'Kew's picture? You_ must _see it. Only three rooms
from here, and no crowd there now. So go and bring me bac