CHAPTER V.
WAR IN EUROPE I The week which began on Monday, July 27th, was feverish and excited.
Formal discussion on the occurrences at Clontarf and Bachelor's Walk was confined to the Monday; but each day had a stormy scene during question-time arising out of it.

The Amending Bill from the Lords was to have been taken on Tuesday, but Mr.Asquith postponed it till Thursday, to get a calmer atmosphere.

When Thursday came, it was postponed again and indefinitely.

"We meet," said the Prime Minister, "under conditions of gravity which are almost unparalleled in the experience of any one of us." It was therefore necessary to "present a united front and be able to speak and act with the authority of an undivided nation." To continue the Home Rule discussion must involve the House in acute controversy in regard to "domestic differences whose importance to ourselves no one in any quarter of the House is disposed to disparage or belittle." The Leader of the Opposition assented.

Two sentences in his speech have importance.