even than
tight ones."

"We'll have our boots off soon, Duke," said Mr. Monk, speaking of the
recess.

"And when shall we be quit of them altogether? Joking apart, they
have to be worn if the country requires it."

"Certainly, Duke."

"And it may be that you and I think that upon the whole they may be
worn with advantage. What does the country say to that?"

"The country has never said the reverse. We have not had a majority
against us this Session on any Government question."

"But we have had narrowing majorities. What will the House do as
to the Lords' amendments on the Bankruptcy Bill?" There was a Bill
that had gone down from the House of Commons, but had not originated
with the Government. It had, however, been fostered by Ministers in
the House of Lords, and had been sent back with certain amendments
for which the Lord Chancellor had made himself responsible. It was
therefore now almost a Government measure. The manipulation of this
measure had been one of the causes of the prolonged sitting of the
Houses.

"Grogram says they will take the amendments."

"And if they don't?"

"Why then," said Mr. Monk, "the Lords must take our rejection."

"And we shall have been beaten," said the Duke.

"Undoubtedly."

"And beaten simply because the House desires to beat us. I am told
that Sir Timothy Beeswax intends to speak and vote against the
amendments."

"What,--Sir Timothy on one side, and Sir Gregory on the other?"

"So Lord Ramsden tells me," said the Duke. "If it be so, what are we
to do?"

"Certainly not go out in August," said Mr. Monk.

When the time came for the consideration of the Lords' amendments
in the House of Commons,--and it did not come till the 8th of
August,--the matter was exactly as the Duke had said. Sir Gregory
Grogram, with a great deal of earnestness, supported the Lords'
amendment,--as he was in honour bound to do. The amendment had come
from his chief, the Lord Chancellor, and had indeed been discussed
with Sir Gregory before it had been proposed. He was very much in
earnest;--but it was evident from Sir Gregory's earnestness that
he expected a violent opposition. Immediately after him rose Sir
Timothy. Now Sir Timothy was a pretentious man, who assumed to be not
only an advocate but a lawyer. And he assumed also to be a political
magnate. He went into the matter at great length. He began by saying
that it was not a party question. The Bill, which he had had the
honour of