“Good gracious!” I cried.  “What are you doing?”

“I’m catching the last post,” said PARNELL, smiling blandly, as, reaching the floor, he unclasped arms and legs from the pillar and quietly walked over to his ordinary place as if this were the usual way of an Hon. Member approaching his seat.

Direful news rapidly spread.  PARNELL not going to retire from Leadership!  On contrary, meant to stay, ignoring little events brought to light in the Divorce Court.  Ministerialists jubilant; Liberals depressed; the whole situation changed; prospects of Liberal supremacy, so certain yesterday, suddenly blighted; talk of Mr. G. retiring from the fray; spoke on Address just now, but no fight left in him; the Opposition wrung out like a damp cloth; even GEORGE CAMPBELL dumb, and Dr. CLARK indefinitely postponed Amendment long threatened.  By ten o’clock the whole thing had flickered out.  Address, which of late has taken three weeks to pass, agreed to in three hours.

[Illustration:  Up a Tree.]

Mr. G. went off as soon as OLD MORALITY had finished his modest speech.  Walked with him across the Park to Carlton Terrace.  Haven’t seen him to speak to since Midlothian.  What a change!  Then elate, confident, energetic, tingling with life to his finger-ends; to-night shrunken, limp, despondent, almost heart-broken.

“Don’t you think, Sir,” I said, “that, after to-day’s experience, Home Rule has a new terror?  You remember how, seven or eight years ago, the Irish Members used to stand up in the House and personally vilify you.  Then, when you came round to their side, the very same men beslabbered you with fulsome adulation.  Now, when there is another parting of the ways, when you pit yourself, your authority, and your character, against their chosen Leader, they rudely turn their backs on you, and tell you to mind your own business.  How’ll it be, do you think, when you’ve finally served their purpose, and made possible the accomplishment of their aim?  When you have made them Masters in Dublin, will they care any more for the views and prejudices of you and your Liberal Party than they have done to-day?”

“TOBY, dear boy,” said Mr. G., “you’re a young dog yet.  When you come to my age, you’ll have learned that there is no gratitude in politics.  But we won’t talk of it any more.  I’m a little tired to-night.”

So we walked in silence up the steps, by the Duke of YORK’s Column.

Business done.—­Address agreed to.  Mr. P. flouts Mr. G.

Thursday.—­House up at twenty minutes to Six, having got through rattling lot of business.  Prince ARTHUR been sailing up and down floor, bringing in Land Bills and Railway Bills.  HICKS-BEACH depressed with legacy of Tithes Bill.

“Cheer up, BEACH,” says CRANBORNE, tugging at his moustache a la GRANDOLPH; “you may depend upon me.  Keep your eye on your young friend, and he will pull you through.”