Really only three
people were in that scrimmage--Mr. Austin, Colonel Saunderson and Mr.
Crean. There was, I believe, some hustling, but of even that I saw
little. Whether it was at this moment, or when Mr. Hayes Fisher laid
hands on Mr. Logan, the hissing came from the gallery, I do not know;
but it was at either of these two moments--a sound hideous,
unparalleled, sufficient to bring the maddest man back to reason. And
then, thinking once more that it was all over, we went into the division
lobbies again.
[Sidenote: The Speaker appears.]
In common with most people, I had by this time forgotten all about Mr.
Chamberlain--all about Herod--all about Judas; thinking the whole affair
was over and done with; that the incident had been submerged under the
row; and all I expected we had now to do was to trudge drearily and
wearily through the lobbies in the long series of divisions which would
precede the final passage of the Bill through Committee. It was only
the wild cheering which announced the advent of the Speaker that brought
me back to the House, and gave me some idea of what had gone on. If you
want to understand why France welcomed Napoleon after the Terror, you
had only to be in the House at that moment, and understand the sense of
relief, joy, and confidence which came over it when the presence of the
Speaker brought it to the sense that at last the reign of Anarchy was
over, and order was in the hands of one who could maintain it against
all men, and against the whole House if needs be.
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