Poor Mr.Johnston only cares about the Pope, and cheers Mr.Hardie simply as a possible obstruction to Mr.Gladstone.
Ill-omened welcomes these for a friend of Labour.
[Sidenote: Sir John Gorst.] Sir John Gorst occupies a curious position in his own party.

He is one of their very ablest debaters; always speaks forcibly and to the point; rarely makes a mistake; and has a wonderfully good eye for the weak points in the armoury of his opponents.

He was the really strong man in the old Fourth Party combination; but somehow or other he does not get on with his friends, and has been left without Cabinet office at a time when many inferior men have been able to get ahead of him.

He has a cold, cynical manner; suggests usually the clever lawyer rather than the sympathetic politician; and altogether seems at odds with the world and with himself.

He made a bold bid, however, for labour legislation; placed himself in a different position from the rest of his colleagues; and altogether made one of those speeches which are listened to in amused curiosity by political opponents, and in ominous silence and with downcast looks by political friends.