]
The situation passed off, but in many breasts it had left its sadness
and its sting behind. And then it was that once more the Old Man
brought back the House to the temper from which it had been carried by
the malignities of Mr. Chamberlain. Very pale, very calm, and, at the
same time, with evident though sternly repressed emotion--even in the
very height and ecstasy of Parliamentary passion there is a splendid
composure and self-command about Mr. Gladstone that conveys an
overwhelming sense of the extraordinary masculinity and strength of his
nature--very pale, and very calm, Mr. Gladstone stood up. Speaking in
low and touching tones he asked to make an explanation, because he
feared that some observations of his might have given pain to gentlemen
who were deeply attached to the memory of Mr. Parnell. Then he stated
that while he had formed an opinion, which might be right or wrong, with
regard to Mr. Parnell before his imprisonment in Kilmainham, he had
always believed, after his release, that Mr. Parnell was working
honestly for the good of Ireland; that he had made a communication to
Mr. Parnell to that effect through a friend; and that from that time
forward no hard word could be found in his speeches with regard to the
Irish leader.
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