and in some respects, quite contrary to them. But this was not so. After
a short time it was observed that the old material, though at first much
less in quantity, had leavened the new mass; that the tone of the former
House was imitated and adopted, and that at the end of five years, about
the time Endymion was returned to Parliament, much of its serene, and
refined, and even classical character had been recovered.

For himself, he entered the chamber with a certain degree of awe, which,
with use, diminished, but never entirely disappeared. The scene was one
over which his boyhood even had long mused, and it was associated with
all those traditions of genius, eloquence, and power that charm and
inspire youth. His practical acquaintance with the forms and habits
of the House from his customary attendance on their debates as private
secretary to a cabinet minister, was of great advantage to him, and
restrained that excitement which dangerously accompanies us when we
enter into a new life, and especially a life of such deep and thrilling
interests and such large proportions. This result was also assisted
by his knowledge, at least by sight, of a large proportion of the old
members, and by his personal and sometimes intimate acquaintance with
those of his own party. There was much in his position, therefore,
to soften that awkward feeling of being a freshman, which is always
embarrassing.

He took his place on the second bench of the opposition side of the
House, and nearly behind Lord Roehampton. Mr. Bertie Tremaine, whom
Endymion encountered in the lobby as he was escaping to dinner,
highly disapproved of this step. He had greeted Endymion with affable
condescension. "You made your first mistake to-night, my dear Ferrars.
You should have taken your seat below the gangway and near me, on the
Mountain. You, like myself, are a man of the future."

"I am a member of the opposition. I do not suppose it signifies much
where I sit."

"On the contrary, it signifies everything. After this great Tory
reaction there is nothing to be done now by speeches, and, in all
probability, very little that can be effectually opposed. Much,
therefore, depends upon where you sit. If you sit on the Mountain,
the public imagination will be attracted to you, and when they are
aggrieved, which they will be in good time, the public passion, which
is called opinion, will look to you for representation. My advice to my
friends now is to sit togeth