The most violent and vehement
free-lance below the gangway sobers down in office to politeness, and
peace with all men of good or bad will. Sir William, sitting on the
Treasury Bench that night--beneath the wild tirade of Mr. Goschen--under
the dreary drip of Sir John Lubbock--was a sight that a new Addison
might show to his child; not that he might see how a Christian might
die, but how a great Christian official could suffer with all the
patience of silent and suffering merit. There was a look of almost
dazzling and beatific sanctity on Sir William's face that was perfectly
delightful to behold. And when he got up to reply to Mr. Goschen and to
Sir John Lubbock, whither had departed that splendid rotundity of
voice--that resonant shout of triumph or of defiance? Sir William coo'd
gently as the white-feathered dove; and the Tory Benches, which had been
ebullient with excitement a few moments before, could not find it in
their hearts to do other than listen reverently to this good and holy
man expostulating with heathen foes. And thus the first resolution of
the Budget got quietly through, which was exactly what the Chancellor of
the Exchequer wanted; whereupon there might have been observed, perhaps,
by a close looker-on, a sinking of one of Sir William's eyelids, which
might have suggested in a lesser mortal the wink of the man who takes
off the mask when the comedy is over.
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