om the Tory and
the Unionist Benches one of the longest, fiercest, most triumphant
shouts that was ever heard in the House of Commons. But then, as I again
must say, and as will soon be seen, the passion was overdone, and a
swift retribution came by-and-bye. For the moment, however, it was
giddily, dazzlingly triumphant, and Joe had one of the few moments of
his life which were unrelieved by disaster.

[Sidenote: A diversion.]

It was at this moment--and, curiously enough, his victory was very soon
dashed to the ground--that Mr. Harrington, one of the Parnellites,
struck in with a blow. In Parliamentary, as in other tactics, one of the
wisest expedients--especially if things are going rather wrong with
yourself--is to carry the war into the enemies' country. And this is
exactly what Mr. Harrington did. He turned upon Joe and denounced him
for seeking at one time to obtain the alliance of these very Irish
members whom now he was denouncing. He accused him of sending
ambassadors to them when they were in prison, and, in short, brought Joe
face to face with an almost forgotten period of his history. Then he was
almost a Home Ruler in profession, and looked to the Irish members as a
portion of the force he would by-and-bye marshal in his own army.

[Sidenote: A quid pro quo.]

Joe grew pale. It is a curious fact that, whenever any allusion is made
to this special period of his life, Mr. Chamberlain becomes particularly
disturbed; possibly, it is that he is conscious of the rash things he
has said at this period; possibly, it is that it can be proved to the
world that he was at this period in favour of the principles and the men
he now so loudly denounces. Whatever the reason, it is perfectly
certain, if you want to put Mr. Chamberlain into a rage, and what
sailors call a funk, allude to the period of Parnell's imprisonment in
Kilmainham, and Mr. Duignan's letter on the Irish question. The
transformation from the exalted look a few moments before to the pale,
cowed aspect which Mr. Chamberlain wore was one of the most sudden
transformations I have ever seen in the House of Commons. He could
scarcely sit in his seat while Mr. Harrington was speaking; again and
again he rose to interrupt him altogether, and gave signs of unusual
excitement and disturbance. But Mr. Harrington is a deft and tenacious
combatant. In spite of all attempts to stop him, in spite of the
tremendous uproar raised by the Unionists and Tories, he mana