The Old Man himself is composedly writing that letter to the Queen which it is still his duty daily to indite.

Mr.Morley's face betrays under all its studied calm, the excitement of the hour, and he reads every separate announcement with a certain dramatic emphasis that brings out all the hidden meaning; and the document is one, the reading of which lends itself to dramatic effect and to dramatic manifestations.

For each clause winds up with the same words, at "ten of the clock," until these words come to sound something like the burden of a song--the refrain of a lament--the iteration of an Athanasian curse against sinners and heretics.

The House sees all this; and each side manifests emotion according to its fashion.

The Irish cheer themselves hoarse in triumph; the Tories answer back as defiantly and loudly; and so we enter, with clang of battle, with shouts and cheers, and hoarse cries of joy or of rage, into the second great pitched battle on Home Rule..