House shouted with laughter; began again when JORDAN explained that Father GILLIKAN, though he had been making a speech in the middle of the River Shannon at the moment of his arrest, was primarily in a boat.  Even that didn’t mend matters, and JORDAN, giving up attempt to understand ill-timed hilarity of House, dried up.

Later, TIM HEALY turned up, TIM TRUCULENT no more.  Where was the excited crowd he was wont to address in Sessions of not very long ago—­the jeering Ministerialists, the applauding Liberals, the enthusiastic band of united Irishmen, with PARNELL sitting placid in their midst, he only quiet amid the turbulent throng?  Now the House more than half empty; the audience irresponsive; Prince ARTHUR sitting solitary on Treasury Bench with head bowed to hide the blushes that had mantled his cheek at hearing TIM extol his improvement since, in 1887, he tried his prentice hand as Chief Secretary.  Prince ARTHUR, when he rises, is careful not to introduce a discordant note.  He has, he says, listened with interest to the able speech of the Hon. and learned Gentleman, the Member for North Longford.  There must be a division for decency’s sake; but only 150 Members turn up, and no one would have been greatly surprised if Prince ARTHUR and TIM HEALY had walked off arm in arm into the same lobby.

[Illustration:  Lalor’s Lament.]

“Shade of me departed frind, JOSEPH GILLIS,” said LALOR, wearily rising to go forth to the division, “what d’ye think of us, suppose this night you chance to be looking down from whatever answers with you to the Strangers’ Gallery, where you used to betake yourself after being suspended?”

Business done.—­Irish Votes in Committee of Supply.

Tuesday.—­The alliance, offensive and defensive, established between the two Houses of Legislature by Lord DENMAN and Mr. ATKINSON been temporarily blighted by machinations of the enemy.

DENMAN, the other night, wanted to move for return showing how many times he had been in attendance.  House said it didn’t particularly care to know.  DENMAN insisted; then the MARKISS, as usual, appeared on the scene, and moved that DENMAN shouldn’t be heard for remainder of sitting.  DENMAN, never at loss in Parliamentary strategy, wanted to move that the MARKISS’s motion should be put from Chair on that day ten months.  But LORD CHANCELLOR, well known to be in league with the MARKISS, promptly put question.  Before DESMAN knew where he was (a not unfamiliar access of haziness) Motion put, declared to be carried, and he condemned to sit silent for rest of evening.

Same tactics, slightly varied, carried on to effacement of other wing of allied forces.  ATKINSON wanted to put question to JOKIM about his Coinage Bill.  Took some pains in framing it; handed it in at table; next day question appeared on paper shorn of its oratorical excellencies.

“How is this?” says ATKINSON, addressing the SPEAKER.