The once resonant voice was somewhat muffled and hoarse, accompanied by a certain tendency to feverish exaggeration of language--in fact, the old Fourth Party methods of almost conscious playing to the gallery.

However, it was a good fighting speech, and the Tories had been so depressed by the bad speaking on their own side, and by the solid bench opposite of cheering, snorting, defiant, but distinctly practical Welshmen, that they were delighted, and cheered admiringly.
[Sidenote: Olympian wrath.] The intimates of Mr.Gladstone declare that composure is perhaps the most remarkable of his many qualities.

In the midst of a Cabinet crisis he would hand you a postage-stamp as though it were the sole matter that concerned him.

But it is also said by his intimates that he has possibilities of Olympian wrath which almost frighten people.

He was certainly roused to a passion by Lord Randolph--very much to the advantage and delight of the House of Commons; for during the earlier portion of the evening, and especially while the speech of Mr.Asquith was being delivered, there was an impression that he did not look very happy.