And so he went
on--rising higher and higher--a deeper harmony in every note--a more
splendid strength in every sentence--till you almost thought you were
looking at some great bird--with the strength and splendour of the
eagle, the full-hearted and passionate melody of the lark--as it soared
on, on its even and well-poised wing, higher and higher to the dim and
blue ether of the upper air.
[Sidenote: A strange scene.]
Right to the last word, there was the same unbroken, passionate strength
and fervour, so that when it was all ended the House gave a start as
though it had to rouse itself from some splendid vision. And then came
that rude and quick awakening which, in the world of actualities, always
bursts in upon the most solemn and moving hours. At about half-past
eight every evening the Speaker or Chairman--whichever is in the
chair--gets up and goes out to tea. Before doing so the presiding
officer calls upon the next speaker, and when the speaker has been
named, cries "Order, order!" and promptly disappears into the room where
his meal is laid. Scarcely had Mr. Gladstone sat down when Mr. Mellor
called upon Sir Richard Temple, then cried "Order, order!" and, almost
within a couple of seconds after Mr.
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