y that had ruled in England since the Reform
Bill.

Mr. Gladstone introduced the Bill himself, and though it was singularly
intricate, he within the space of three hours not only made it clear
from preamble to schedule, but had talked over a predeterminedly hostile
House into believing it would do well to accept it. Mr. Horsman, not an
emotional person, went home after listening to the speech, and wrote a
glowing letter to the _Times_, in which he hailed Mr. Gladstone and the
Irish University Bill as the most notable of the recent dispensations of
a beneficent Providence. Later, when the Tea-room teemed with cabal, and
revolt rapidly spread through the Liberal host, presaging the defeat of
the Government, Mr. Horsman, in his most solemn manner, explained away
this letter to a crowded and hilarious House. The only difference
between him and seven-eighths of Mr. Gladstone's audience was that he
had committed the indiscretion of putting pen to paper whilst he was yet
under the spell of the orator, the others going home to bed to think it
over.

[Illustration: MR. GLADSTONE.]

On the eve of a new departure, once more Premier, idol of the populace,
and captain of a majority in the House of Commons, Mr. Gladstone's
thoughts may peradventure turn to those weary days twenty years dead. He
would not forget one Wednesday afternoon when the University Education
Bill was in Committee, and Mr. Charles Miall was speaking from the
middle of the third bench below the gangway. The Nonconformist
conscience then, as now, was a ticklish thing. It had been pricked by
too generous provision made for an alien Church, and Mr. Miall was
solemnly, and with indubitable honest regret, explaining how it would be
impossible for him to support the Government. Mr. Gladstone listened
with lowering brow and face growing ashy pale with anger. When plain,
commonplace Mr. Miall resumed his seat, Mr. Gladstone leaped to his feet
with torpedoic action and energy. With voice stinging with angry scorn,
and with magnificent gesture of the hand, designed for the cluster of
malcontents below the gangway, he besought the honourable gentleman "in
Heaven's name" to take his support elsewhere. The injunction was obeyed.
The Bill was thrown out by a majority of three, and though, Mr. Disraeli
wisely declining to take office, Mr. Gladstone remained on the Treasury
Bench, his power was shattered, and he and the Liberal party went out
into the wilderness to tarry ther