igure of his esteemed Leader. Not to be moved
by blandishment or argument from this position. Prince ARTHUR, seeing
matters hopeless, haughtily strode forth, GRANDOLPH loyally accompanying
him. But more than half his old colleagues stayed behind with JEMMIE
LOWTHER who got Opposition soundly beaten by majority of 85.

"There's only one thing we want to run our majority over 100," said
SQUIRE OF MALWOOD, smiling beneficently from Treasury Bench. "Another
meeting of the Party at the Carlton Club will do it."

"What did you mean by to-night's performance?" I asked JEMMIE, later.

"Mean? I meant business. I'm a little tired of lurking in background
seeing men come to front who haven't half my ability, political acumen,
or Parliamentary knowledge. I intend to have a Party of my own. There
has been a Fourth Party, and before that there was a Tea-room Party, and
a Cave of Adullam. I shall eclipse them all."

"And under what name do you think history will know your faction?" I
asked, much interested.

The Right Hon. took up a piece of paper, and on it wrote the words,
"LOWTHER'S ARCADE."

_Business done._--WOLMER'S Amendment on the Navy Estimates negatived.

_Friday._--Prince ARTHUR, and Statesman to whom AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN
distantly alludes as "My Right Hon. friend," sit separated by width of
House. But, in assaults on Government, they are not divided. Idle
stories about differences of opinion arising between them quite
unnecessarily denied.

"I never look at them," said TREVELYAN, "without recalling to mind a
passage in what is, I think, my favourite among DICKENS'S novels. You
remember the scene in _Great Expectations_, where _Joe Gargery_ visits
_Pip_, in his day of prosperity, in London? 'Ever best of friends,' says
JOE (CHAMBERLAIN). 'Dear JOE,' says Prince ARTHUR. 'You know, PIP,' says
JOE, 'as you and me were ever friends, and it were looked forrerd to
betwixt us as bein' calc'lated to lead to larks.'"

The expectation not lacking of past fulfilment; full of promise in days
near at hand.

_Business done._--Sat from two to seven discussing whether we shall sit
to-morrow in order to make progress with public business. Finally
decided we shall. Meanwhile, morning sitting slipped away.

[Illustration: "GREAT EXPECTATIONS."

["As persistent attempts are being made to show that Mr.
BALFOUR and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN are at variance respecting
the tactics which should be adopted by the Unionist
Part