Business done.—­Education Bill introduced.

Tuesday.—­Nothing at first sight in personal appearance of HERBERT THOMAS KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN that suggests a swan.  Fancy I have heard something of these birds being addicted to the habit of breaking forth into song when convinced of approaching dissolution.  That, I suppose, is how the swan was suggested to the mind when just now, KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN rose from behind Ministers, and began to chant his threnody.  Resolution on which Education Bill grafted brought up for report stage; agreed to, and HART DYKE about to bring in his Bill.  Then from the back seat rose a sturdy yeoman figure, and a powerful voice was uplifted in denunciation of the Bill and of a Ministry that had betrayed the trust of the Conservative Party.  It was, so the swan sang, a step on the road to Socialism.  He feared it had come to pass that dangerous measures are more likely to emanate from the Treasury Bench than from the Front Bench opposite.

Liberals roared with delighted laughter and cheers; the Conservatives sat glum and ill-at-ease.  OLD MORALITY’s white teeth gleamed with a spasmodic smile.  As for JOKIM he folded his arms, and bit his lips and frowned.

“What antiquated nonsense this is!” he muttered, “of course Free Education is not a Conservative principle.  They all protested against it at the General Election.  A year earlier I, who happened at the time to be numbered in the Liberal ranks, put my back against the wall, and, picturing the evils that would befall my country if its institutions were thus demoralised, I said I would die before I would lend a hand to free the schools.  But you see, TOBY, I haven’t died, and that changes the whole situation.  Not only enables me to retain my place in Government bringing in Free Education, but permits me, as CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, actually to find the means for carrying out the system.  Can’t understand a fellow like this KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN sticking to his principles when it becomes expedient to swallow them.  He’s a disgrace to a family that counts BRABOURNE as its head.”

[Illustration:  “A Progressive Conservative.” (Vide Dod.)]

“HUGESSEN’s a good fellow,” said ISAACSON; “wears well, but is politically a fossil.  Now I’m a progressive Conservative, which I think you’ll find, TOBY, my boy, to be about the time of day.”

Business done.—­Assisted Education Bill; firmly led up to table by HART DYKE.

Wednesday.—­Lively fight round Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill.  Ascot in vain held forth its attractions; supporters of the Bill hoped opponents would go; opponents came down rather expecting HENEAGE’s virtue would have given way, and Ascot would have claimed him as its own.  But everybody there—­MAKINS’s men with long list of Amendments warranted to keep things going till half-past five, when progress must be reported, and chance of Bill for present Session lost.  MAKINS himself in high oratorical feather.  OSBORNE-AP-MORGAN, having made a proposition and subsequently withdrawn it, MAKINS, putting on severest judicial aspect, observed, “It is all very well for the Right Hon. and learned Gentleman to make a legal JONAH of himself and swallow his opinions.”