There were speeches about the County Councils, and there had been Unionist and Tory cheers in relief; but when immediately afterwards there were allusions to Home Rule, very little different in scope or character from that proposed by Mr.Gladstone, there was a triumphant rejoinder from the Liberal and Home Rule Benches.

Austen Chamberlain, excited, nervous, angered, flitted to and fro in the attempt to gather forces to defend his absent parent.

At last Mr.Courtney took up his case.

There was not very much in what he said, and while he was speaking Mr.Chamberlain entered the House.

He was pale, excited, and unnerved.
He endeavoured to carry the whole thing by a jauntiness which was too easy to see through.