“I send these few lines,” he writes, “hoping they will find you well as they leave me at present.  Talking about lines, mine have fallen in pleasanter places than yours, or JOKIM’S chance to be just now.  Some people are inclined to deny me the faculty of humour.  But I think the merry-go-rounder of leaving JOKIM in charge of the Free Education Bill is pretty well for a beginner.  Everything must have a commencement.  Now I’ve started I may in time become a regular JOSEPH MILLER.  Excuse my not mentioning my present address, and be sure that wherever I am, I am animated solely by desire to do my duty to Queen and Country, and to meet the convenience of Hon. Gentlemen in whatever part of the House they may sit.  If you want to write to me, address ’Mr. SMITH, England.’  I have reason to believe that so perfect is the machinery of the Post Office under the direction of my Right Hon. friend, that the missive thus directed will not fail to reach its destination.”

Business done.—­On Second Reading of Education Bill.

Thursday.—­An old acquaintance looked in at Lobby to-night.  When he was here, we used to call him LONG LAWRENCE.  Now he is one of Her MAJESTY’S Judges, and we must behave to him as such.

“How’re you getting on here, TOBY?” he said, just as friendly as if he were still at the Bar.

“As your Ludship pleases,” I replied, too old a Parliamentary Hand to be inveigled into familiarity by his unassuming manner.

Fact is, as, on his further entreaty, I proceeded to explain to the learned Judge, we are getting on very well indeed.  Truce been called in party conflict, and is strictly observed.  Mr. G. is absent on sick leave—­not keeping out of the way of Education Bill, as some will have it.  OLD MORALITY back to-night; came down in a penny ’bus, in final effort to elude discovery of his place of recent retreat.  PARNELL also absent; news comes to-night that his business is matrimonial; graphic accounts current of his expedition “in a one-horse vehicle” from Brighton to Steyning.

“If,” says his Ludship, fresh from a Criminal Court, “he had been committing, a burglary, and was getting off with the loot in the one-horse O’Shay, he could not have taken fuller precautions to evade pursuit.”

[Illustration:  Long Lawrence.]

At first some doubt as to truth of story.  Been rumoured often before.  Then comes, in special edition of evening paper, the detail:  “The ceremony being concluded, Mr. and Mrs. PARNELL drove away in the direction of Bramber, Mrs. PARNELL taking the whip and reins.”

“Ah!” said DICK POWER, “that’s KITTY, and no mistake.  She always takes the whip and reins.  Bet you three to one the trick’s done.”

SQUIRE of MALWOOD faithful at his post, but he, too, observant of the Truce.  Everyone tired to death of dullest Session ever lived through, and chiefly anxious to bring it to an end.

Business done.—­In Committee of Supply.