uld be healed. The general opinion was
that Lord Drummond would give way. But on the Sunday morning it was
understood that Lord Drummond would not yield. It was reported that
Lord Drummond was willing to purchase his separation from Sir Timothy
even at the expense of his office. That Sir Timothy should give way
seemed to be impossible. Had he done so it would have been impossible
for him to recover the respect of the House. Then it was rumoured
that two or three others had gone with Sir Timothy. And on Monday
morning it was proclaimed that the Prime Minister was not in a
condition to withdraw his resignation. On the Tuesday the House met
and Mr. Monk announced, still from the Opposition benches, that
he had that morning been with the Queen. Then there was another
adjournment, and all the Liberals knew that the gates of Paradise
were again about to be opened to them.

This is only interesting to us as affecting the happiness and
character of our Duke. He had consented to assist Mr. Monk in forming
a government, and to take office under Mr. Monk's leadership. He
had had many contests with himself before he could bring himself
to this submission. He knew that if anything could once again make
him contented it would be work; he knew that if he could serve his
country it was his duty to serve it; and he knew also that it was
only by the adhesion of such men as himself that the traditions of
his party could be maintained. But he had been Prime Minister,--and
he was sure he could never be Prime Minister again. There are in
all matters certain little, almost hidden, signs, by which we can
measure within our own bosoms the extent of our successes and our
failures. Our Duke's friends had told him that his Ministry had been
serviceable to the country; but no one had ever suggested to him that
he would again be asked to fill the place which he had filled. He
had stopped a gap. He would beforehand have declared himself willing
to serve his country even in this way; but having done so,--having
done that and no more than that,--he felt that he had failed. He had
in his soreness declared to himself that he would never more take
office. He had much to do to overcome this promise to himself;--but
when he had brought himself to submit, he was certainly a happier
man.

There was no going to see the Queen. That on the present occasion
was done simply by Mr. Monk. But on the Wednesday morning his name
appeared in the list of the new Cabin