The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.

In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.

Perhaps they did not expect it yet.

There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.

But the strength of the minority consisted, not in the fact that the majority against them was small, but that it was decreasing.