d Mr. Green Walker. On the following morning it was known that
Lord De Terrier was with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and at about
twelve a list of the new ministry was published, which must have
been in the highest degree satisfactory to the whole brood of giants.
Every son of Tellus was included in it, as were also very many of
the daughters. But then, late in the afternoon, Lord Brock was again
summoned to the palace, and it was thought in the West End among the
clubs that the gods had again a chance. "If only," said the _Purist_,
an evening paper which was supposed to be very much in the interest
of Mr. Harold Smith, "if only Lord Brock can have the wisdom to place
the right men in the right places. It was only the other day that he
introduced Mr. Smith into his Government. That this was a step in
the right direction every one has acknowledged, though unfortunately
it was made too late to prevent the disturbance which has since
occurred. It now appears probable that his lordship will again have
an opportunity of selecting a list of statesmen with the view of
carrying on the Queen's Government; and it is to be hoped that such
men as Mr. Smith may be placed in situations in which their talents,
industry, and acknowledged official aptitudes, may be of permanent
service to the country." Supplehouse, when he read this at the club
with Mr. Sowerby at his elbow, declared that the style was too well
marked to leave any doubt as to the author; but we ourselves are not
inclined to think that Mr. Harold Smith wrote the article himself,
although it may be probable that he saw it in type. But the _Jupiter_
the next morning settled the whole question, and made it known to the
world that, in spite of all the sendings and resendings, Lord Brock
and the gods were permanently out, and Lord De Terrier and the
giants permanently in. That fractious giant who would only go to
the Foreign Office, had, in fact, gone to some sphere of much less
important duty, and Sidonia, in spite of the whispered dislike of
an illustrious personage, opened the campaign with all the full
appanages of a giant of the highest standing. "We hope," said the
_Jupiter_, "that Lord Brock may not yet be too old to take a lesson.
If so, the present decision of the House of Commons, and we may say
of the country also, may teach him not to put his trust in such
princes as Lord Brittleback, or such broken reeds as Mr. Harold
Smith." Now this parting blow we always tho