med,
so popular with the gentlemen who sat on the other side, and
who supported the so-called Conservative Government of the day.
His reasons for doing so had been stated very lately, and must
unfortunately be repeated very soon, and he would not, therefore, now
trouble the House with them. He did not on this occasion explain his
ideas as to majorities, and the Address was carried by seven o'clock
in the evening. Mr. Daubeny named a day a month hence for the first
reading of his bill, and was asked the cause of the delay by some
member on a back bench. "Because it cannot be ready sooner," said
Mr. Daubeny. "When the honourable gentleman has achieved a position
which will throw upon him the responsibility of bringing forward some
great measure for the benefit of his country, he will probably find
it expedient to devote some little time to details. If he do not,
he will be less anxious to avoid attack than I am." A Minister
can always give a reason; and, if he be clever, he can generally
when doing so punish the man who asks for it. The punishing of an
influential enemy is an indiscretion; but an obscure questioner may
often be crushed with good effect.

Mr. Monk's advice to Phineas was both simple and agreeable. He
intended to support Mr. Gresham, and of course counselled his friend
to do the same.

"But you supported Mr. Daubeny on the Address before Christmas," said
Phineas.

"And shall therefore be bound to explain why I oppose him now;--but
the task will not be difficult. The Queen's speech to Parliament was
in my judgment right, and therefore I concurred in the Address. But I
certainly cannot trust Mr. Daubeny with Church Reform. I do not know
that many will make the same distinction, but I shall do so."

Phineas soon found himself sitting in the House as though he had
never left it. His absence had not been long enough to make the place
feel strange to him. He was on his legs before a fortnight was over
asking some question of some Minister, and of course insinuating
as he did so that the Minister in question had been guilty of some
enormity of omission or commission. It all came back upon him as
though he had been born to the very manner. And as it became known
to the Ratlers that he meant to vote right on the great coming
question,--to vote right and to speak right in spite of his doings at
Tankerville,--everybody was civil to him. Mr. Bonteen did express an
opinion to Mr. Ratler that it was quite impossibl