the traditions of his youth, still, this
prevailing gloom was lightened, often at very unexpected moments, by
flashes of delicious humour, sarcastic but not savage. No one excelled
him in the art of making an opponent look ridiculous. Careless
critics called him "cynical," but it was an abuse of words. Cynicism
is shamelessness, and not a word ever fell from Lord Salisbury which
was inconsistent with the highest ideals of patriotic statesmanship.

He was by nature as shy as he was short-sighted. He shrank from new
acquaintances, and did not always detect old friends. His failure
to recognize a young politician who sat in his Cabinet, and a zealous
clergyman whom he had just made a Bishop, supplied his circle with
abundant mirth, which was increased when, at the beginning of the
South African War, he was seen deep in military conversation with
Lord Blyth, under the impression that he was talking to Lord Roberts.

But, in spite of these impediments to social facility, he was an
admirable host both at Hatfield and in Arlington Street--courteous,
dignified, and only anxious to put everyone at their ease. His
opinions were not mine, and it always seemed to me that he was
liable to be swayed by stronger wills than his own. But he was
exactly what he called Gladstone, "a great Christian statesman."

VII

_LORD ROSEBERY_

It was in December, 1885, that the present Lord Gladstone; in
conjunction with the late Sir Wemyss Reid, sent up "the Hawarden
Kite." After a lapse of thirty-two years, that strange creature
is still flapping about in a stormy sky; and in the process of
time it has become a familiar, if not an attractive, object. But
the history of its earlier gyrations must be briefly recalled.

The General Election of 1885 had just ended in a tie, the Liberals
being exactly equal to the combined Tories and Parnellites. Suddenly
the Liberals found themselves committed, as far as Gladstone could
commit them, to the principle of Home Rule, which down to that
time they had been taught to denounce. Most of them followed their
leader, but many rebelled. The Irish transferred their votes in the
House to the statesman whom--as they thought--they had squeezed
into compliance with their policy, and helped him to evict Lord
Salisbury after six months of office. Gladstone formed a Government,
introduced a Home Rule Bill, split his party in twain, was defeated
in the House of Commons, dissolved Parliament, and was soundly