’It’s odd enough we should have a row the very first day you come,’ said Silverbridge.

‘You think there will be a row?’

’Beeswax has something special to say.  He’s not here yet you see.  They’ve left about six inches for him between Roper and Sir Orlando.  You’ll have the privilege of looking just down on the top of his head when he does come.  I shan’t stay much longer after that.’

‘Where are you going?’

’I don’t mean today.  But I should not have been here now,—­in this very place I mean,—­but I want to stick to you just at first.  I shall move down below the gangway; and not improbably creep over to the other side before long.’

‘You don’t mean it?’

‘I think I shall.  I begin to feel I’ve made a mistake.’

‘In coming to this side at all?’

‘I think I have.  After all it is not very important.’

‘What is not important?  I think it is very important.’

’Perhaps it may be to you, and perhaps you may be able to keep it up.  But the more I think of it the less excuse I seem to have for deserting the old ways of the family.  What is there in those fellows down there to make a fellow feel that he ought to bind himself to them neck and heels?’

‘Their principles.’

’Yes, their principles!  I believe I have some vague idea as to supporting property and land and all that kind of thing.  I don’t know that anybody wants to attack anything.’

‘Somebody soon would want to attack if there no defenders.’

’I suppose there is an outside power,—­the people, or public opinion, or whatever they choose to call it.  And the country will have to go very much as that outside power chooses.  Here, in Parliament, everybody will be as conservative as the outside will let them.  I don’t think it matters on which side you sit;—­but it does matter that you shouldn’t have to act with those who go against the grain with you.’

‘I never heard worse political arguments in my life.’

’I daresay not.  However, there’s Sir Timothy.  When he looks in that way, all buckram, deportment, and solemnity, I know he’s going to pitch into somebody.’

At this moment the Leader of the House came in from behind the Speaker’s chair and took his place between Mr Roper and Sir Orlando Drought.  When a man has to declare a solemn purpose on a solemn occasion in a solemn place, it is needful that he should be solemn himself.  And though the solemnity which befits a man best will be that which the importance of the moment may produce, without thought given by himself to his own outward person, still, who is there can refrain himself from some attempt?  Who can boast, who that has been versed in the ways and duties of high places, that he has kept himself free from all study of grace, of feature, or attitude, of gait—­or even of dress?  For most of our bishops, for most of our judges, or our statesmen, our orators,