But periods of calm are much more interesting to Governments than to the public.

When there are the noise and tumult of battle; when the galleries are crowded--when peers jostle each other in the race for seats--when the Prince of Wales comes down to his place over the clock, then you may take it for granted that the business of the country is at a standstill; and that just so much of the public time is being wasted in mere emptiness and talk.

But when the House is half empty--when the galleries are no longer full--when debates are brief and passionless, then you can reasonably conclude that things are going well with the Government; that useful business is in progress; and that something is being really added to the happiness of the nation.
[Sidenote: The humbled Opposition.] So it was during the second week of the Home Rule Session.

No great diplomats claimed their seats; the outer lobby was no longer besieged; there was no longer any ferocity of competition for seats; and the attendance at prayers visibly relaxed; but all the time more useful legislation was initiated in the course of the week than in any similar period for upwards of six or seven years of Parliamentary time.

A good deal of the progress is due to the sober and subdued spirit of the Opposition.