t his arms as if
he were semaphore signalling to the rearguard of Republican Army.

"Order! Order!" cried SPEAKER, sternly.

"Oh, you can suspend me if you like," said Citizen GRAHAM, airily, as
if it were no hanging matter. Members angrily joined in cry of "Order!
Order!" SPEAKER promptly "named" the Citizen--not with his full list
of names, for time was pressing.

"Name away!" roared the Citizen, whom nothing could disconcert. HOME
SECRETARY having no fear of the lamppost before his eyes, formally
moved that the Citizen be suspended. GRAHAM snapped his fingers at
HOME SECRETARY. "Suspend away!" he shouted.

[Illustration: "Hair slowly uplifting."]

Members looked on aghast. ROWLANDS standing at the Bar, conscious of
his hair slowly uplifting. Belonged to the advanced guard himself;
but this going little too far. LUBBOCK, sitting near Citizen,
strategically attempted to change the conversation. "Did you ever," he
said, blandly, "notice how the queen bee, when she is--"

"Oh, you bee ----" said the Citizen, roughly shaking off the gentle
Bee-master.

SAM SMITH shudderingly covered his face with his hands. "I'm so
afraid," he whispered, "of the old A-dam coming out." And it did,
Citizen GRAHAM himself immediately after going out, stopping at the
Bar to shuffle through a few steps of the Carmagnole, and trumpet
defiance on his blood-red handkerchief.

After this, a mere flash of lightning through the low clouds of a dull
afternoon, ASQUITH went on with his speech, debate proceeded as if
nothing had happened, and HALDANE's Bill thrown out by 223 Votes
against 148. _Business done_.--Citizen GRAHAM suspended.

_Friday_.--House met to-day as it did yesterday and day before to
discuss Bills and Motions. But all the talk really turns upon date of
Dissolution, and what is likely to happen after a General Election.
SQUIRE OF MALWOOD serenely confident in the future.

"Yes," I said to him to-night, "it must be a great comfort to you to
reflect that when you come into office you will not have to beat about
for a programme. You've got your Newcastle platform, and I suppose a
Liberal Ministry will stand upon that."

"You remind me, dear TOBY," said the Squire, with a far-away look, "of
a story COLERIDGE brought home from his memorable visit to the United
States. On his way down to Chicago he went out on the platform of the
car to breathe the air and look at the scenery. 'Come off that,' said
the Conductor, following him