ed with eager and expectant faces--but the hero of
the hour had not yet arrived. When at length he did walk down the aisle,
as unconcernedly as though he were an unknown man entering a theatre,
feminine whispers of "There he is!" could plainly be heard above the
buzz, and simultaneous applause broke out in spots, causing the Speaker
to rap sharply with his gavel. Poor Mr. Speaker Doby! He looked more
like the mock-turtle than ever! and might have exclaimed, too, that once
he had been a real turtle: only yesterday, in fact, before he had made
the inconceivable blunder of recognizing Mr. Humphrey Crewe. Mr. Speaker
Doby had spent a part of the night in room Number Seven listening to
things about himself. Herminius the unspeakable has given the enemy a
foothold in Rome.

Apparently unaware that he was the centre of interest, Mr. Crewe,
carrying a neat little bag full of papers, took his seat beside the
Honourable Jacob Botcher, nodding to that erstwhile friend as a man of
the world should. And Mr. Botcher, not to be outdone, nodded back.

We shall skip over the painful interval that elapsed before the bill in
question was reached: painful, at least, for every one but Mr. Crewe,
who sat with his knees crossed and his arms folded. The hosts were
facing each other, awaiting the word; the rebels prayerfully watching
their gallant leader; and the loyal vassals--whose wavering ranks had
been added to overnight--with their eyes on Mr. Bascom. And in justice
to that veteran it must be said, despite the knock-out blow he had
received, that he seemed as debonair as ever.

"Now while the three were tightening
The harness on their backs."

Mr. Speaker Doby read many committee reports, and at the beginning of
each there was a stir of expectation that it might be the signal for
battle. But at length he fumbled among his papers, cleared away the lump
in his throat, and glanced significantly at Mr. Bascom.

"The Committee on Incorporations, to whom was referred House bill number
302, entitled "An act to incorporate the Pingsquit Railroad," having
considered the same, report the same with the following resolution:
'Resolved, that it is inexpedient to legislate. Brush Bascom, for the
Committee.' Gentlemen, are you ready for the question? As many as are
of opinion that the report of the Committee should be adopted--the
gentleman from Putnam, Mr. Bascom."

Again let us do exact justice, and let us not be led by our feelin