The Irish, with their ready wits--their fierce and keen memories--have caught the point at once; and they burst into a cheer--loud, fierce, and prolonged.

What it means is this: In 1887, the Tories had carried a closure resolution for the purpose of forcing through the Coercion Bill of that year; and it was under the working of that closure resolution that the Bill had finally passed the House of Commons, with several of its clauses undebated.

What, then, this fierce Irish cheer meant was that the chickens were coming home to roost; and that the Tories were now reaping the harvest of their own sowing.

With grave face the Old Man waited until the storm had spent itself, and then he went on to make a little slip, which for the moment gave his enemies an excellent opening.
[Sidenote: Revolution or resolution.] He spoke not of the resolution, but of the revolution.

He corrected the slip with great rapidity, but he was not quick enough for his watchful enemies, and loudly--discordantly--triumphantly--they repeated the word after him--Revolution--Revolution.