l of the combatants was displayed on that other
question. Faction was now the avowed weapon of the leaders of
the so-called Liberal side of the House, and it was very easy to
denounce the new doctrine. Every word that Mr. Gresham had spoken
was picked in pieces, and the enormity of his theory was exhibited.
He had boldly declared to them that they were to regard men and not
measures, and they were to show by their votes whether they were
prepared to accept such teaching. The speeches were, of course, made
by alternate orators, but the firing from the Conservative benches
was on this evening much the louder.

It would have seemed that with such an issue between them they might
almost have consented to divide after the completion of the two great
speeches. The course on which they were to run had been explained to
them, and it was not probable that any member's intention as to his
running would now be altered by anything that he might hear. Mr.
Turnbull's two dozen defaulters were all known, and the two dozen and
four true Conservatives were known also. But, nevertheless, a great
many members were anxious to speak. It would be the great debate
of the Session, and the subject to be handled,--that, namely, of
the general merits and demerits of the two political parties,--was
wide and very easy. On that night it was past one o'clock when Mr.
Turnbull adjourned the House.

"I'm afraid we must put you off till Tuesday," Mr. Ratler said on the
Sunday afternoon to Phineas Finn.

"I have no objection at all, so long as I get a fair place on that
day."

"There shan't be a doubt about that. Gresham particularly wants you
to speak, because you are pledged to a measure of disestablishment.
You can insist on his own views,--that even should such a measure be
essentially necessary--"

"Which I think it is," said Phineas.

"Still it should not be accepted from the old Church-and-State
party."

There was something pleasant in this to Phineas Finn,--something that
made him feel for the moment that he had perhaps mistaken the bearing
of his friend towards him. "We are sure of a majority, I suppose," he
said.

"Absolutely sure," said Ratler. "I begin to think it will amount to
half a hundred,--perhaps more."

"What will Daubeny do?"

"Go out. He can't do anything else. His pluck is certainly wonderful,
but even with his pluck he can't dissolve again. His Church Bill has
given him a six months' run, and six months is something