Phineas Finn

e present moment is with the Commons, we will confine ourselves to their chamber, and will do so the more willingly because the upsh

eny could only inform the House that Her Majesty had signified her pleasure that Mr Mildmay should wait upon her tomorrow at eleven o'clock. Mr Mildmay - so Mr Daubeny understood - would be with Her Majesty tomorrow at that hour. Lord de Terrier had found it to be his duty to recommend Her Majesty to send for Mr Mildmay. Such was the real import of Mr Daubeny's speech. That further portion of it in which he explained with blandest, most beneficent, honey-flowing words that his party would have done everything that the country could require of any party, had the House allowed it to re

cause we are used to it; but surely in the eyes of strangers our practice must be very singular. There is nothing like it in any other country - nothing as yet. Nowhere else is there the same good humoured, affectionate, prize-fighting ferocity in politics. The leaders of our two great parties are to each other exactly as are the two champions of the ring who knock each other about for the belt and for five hundred pounds a side once in every two years. How they fly at each other, striking as though each blow should carry death if it were but possible! And yet there is no one whom the Birmingham Bantam respects so highly as he does Bill Burns the Brighton Bully, or with whom he has so muc

pose the task upon some other person. Then everything was said that had to be said, and members returned to their clubs. A certain damp was thrown over the joy of some excitable Liberals by tidings which reached the House during Mr Daubeny's speech. Sir Everard Powell was no more dead than was Mr Daubeny himself. Now it is very unpleasant to find that your news is untrue

d not succeed either with Mr Monk or without him. There were at the present moment two sections of these gentlemen - the section which declared that Mr Mildmay had sent for Mr Monk, and the section which declared that he had not. But there were others, who perhaps knew better what they were saying, by whom it was asserted that the whole difficulty lay with Mr Gresham. Mr Gresham was willing to serve with Mr Mildmay - with certain stipulations as to the special seat in the Cabinet which he himself was to occupy, and as to the introduction of certain friends of his own; but - so said these gentlemen who were supposed really to understand the matter - Mr Gresham was not willing to serve with the Duke and with Mr Palliser. Now, everybody who knew anything knew that the Duke and Mr Palliser were indispensable to Mr Mildmay. And a liberal Government, with Mr Gresham in the opposition, could not live half through a session! All Sunday and Monday these things were discussed; and on the Monday Lord de Terrier absolutely stated to the Upper House that he

e difficulties had at length arrived, began to wear their longest faces, and to be triumphant with melancholy forebodings. Now at last there was a deadlock. Nobody could form a government. It was asserted that Mr Mildmay had fallen at her Majesty's feet dissolved in tears, and had implored to be relieved from further responsibility. It was well known to many at the clubs that the Queen had on that morning telegraphed to Germany for advice. There were men so gloomy

to the individuals, though the offices were a little jumbled. The Government was at last formed in a manner which everybody had seen to be the only possible way in which a government could be formed. Nobody was surprised, and the week's work was regarded as though the regular routine of government making had simply been followed. Mr Mildmay was Prime Minister; Mr Gresham was at the Foreign Office; Mr Monk was at the Board of Trade; the Duke was President of the Council; the Earl of Brentford was Privy Seal; and Mr Palliser was Chancellor of the Exchequer. Barrington Erle made a step up in

rtnight. Of course nothing could be done for him as yet. But, nevertheless, he felt himself to be out in the cold. The very men who had discussed with him the question of the division - who had discussed it with him because his vote was then as good as that of any other member - did not care to talk to him about the distribution of places. He, at any rate, could not be one of them. He, at any rate, could not be a rival. He c

mply because of his money

he has got a head on his shoulders, though he has got no tongue i

Kennedy refused," sa

ld have come to pass that such honour - the honour of the enduring prefix to his name - would have come in the way of Mr Kennedy had Mr Kennedy

things. There are men who should not attempt what is called independence in Parliament. By doing so they simply decline to make

s! You know Orio

ot an Akinetos,"

oud position," said

indeed," said Lady La

's sister. There had been only two other guests, and both of them had been men on the turf. "I was the first

something besides horses. He is very well educated, you know, and would certain

take a

some day. They expelled him because he was drunk." Then Lady Laura burst out into tears, and Phineas s

ver with him to Mayo to assist at his re-election. And Phineas did go. The whole affair occupied but a week, and

ce. "It isn't much; is it? And every fellow to whom I owe a shilling will be down

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