Mr.Chamberlain in his day has been a poor attendant in Parliament--a friend of his used to tell him, when he was supposed to have the reversion of the Liberal leadership, that his inability to remain for hours in succession in the House of Commons would always stand in the way of his being the leader of that assembly.
But he turns up now usually after dinner, and from his seat on the third bench below the gangway, on the Liberal side, watches the progress of battle.

It is known to the intimates of Mr.Balfour that he has not a particularly high opinion of his partner in the work of obstructing the cause of Home Rule.

Indeed, it is impossible that the two men should be really sympathetic with each other.

With all his faults, Mr.Balfour does represent the literary and cultured side of political life; while Mr.Chamberlain is illiteracy embodied.

Then, Mr.Chamberlain has a knack of attributing every victory to himself--modesty isn't one of his many virtues--and this cannot be particularly agreeable to the real leader of the Opposition.