“The best of all ways to shorten our days
  Is to steal a few hours from the night.”

“That doesn’t scan,” said CHILDERS, who is nothing if not critical.

“Of course it doesn’t,” said the SQUIRE, testily; “there are a pair of feet left out.  But you know, TOBY, how they run.  The last line should be, ‘Is to steal a few hours from the night, my Love.’  Now, theoretically, and in accordance with order, all our observations are directed personally to the SPEAKER.  Imagine what would have been said if I had completed the quotation!  I should have been accused of frivolity, and perhaps suspended, like ATKINSON.  No, Sir, I know what I’m about, even when quoting poetry.”

Mention this to illustrate the state of terrorism existing in House just now, after blow that fell on ATKINSON.  Only man who prattles on unconscious of impending doom is MORTON.  ALPHEUS CLEOPHAS not at all satisfied with condition of affairs.  ATKINSON has stolen march on him; left him nowhere.  Determined to-night to pull up lost way.  In Committee on Irish Votes moved to reduce charge for Dublin Police by L1000; proposed to show at some length charge is excessive.  Committee thought Irish Members might be left to look after that for themselves.  Howled at ALPHEUS continuously for space of ten minutes; then he sat down, moving reduction in dumb show.

Pity Prince of NAPLES hadn’t chosen this time for visit; would have given him much livelier impression of the place than he gained when he sat in Gallery just after Questions, listening to CLARK discoursing about Scotch Crofters to audience of nineteen, including SPEAKER. Business done.—­Committee of Supply.

Wednesday.—­House rapidly thinning; AKERS-DOUGLAS has hard work to keep his men together; falling off like leaves in wintry weather.  Been a long Session, and a weary one.  Only sense of duty to our QUEEN and Country kept us here unto this last.

“And now I’m off,” said SAGE OF QUEEN ANNE’S GATE.  “I don’t know how you’ll get on without me, dear boys.”

“We’ll try, we’ll try,” murmured the Conservatives gathered in the smoke-room for the last cigarette.

“You see,” the SAGE continued, “some lives are valuable to the country, and must be cared for, whatever violence is done to private feeling.  For my part, I would much rather be here, but RUSTEM ROOSE, He-who-is-to-be-Obeyed, has ordered me to Marienbad, and I go.  ‘But,’ like ATKINSON and another ancient Roman (of whom you may have read in school-books), ‘I return.’  In the meanwhile, take care of Mr. G. Don’t let him overwork himself, or ruthlessly endanger his health.  It is precious to all of us, more especially to some of his colleagues on the Front Bench.  I often think of what will happen when he retires from the scene.  I fancy there will be a kind of Suttee.  There are quite a lot of old wives in his political establishment, who cannot resist, what must, indeed,