Never had he spoken so powerfully.

Being one of the only men at the banquet who had enjoyed even a
brief glimpse of Ireland, he made the solution of the Irish question
the main topic of his speech. Speaking lucidly and earnestly, he
placed before them his panacea for Irish ills.

His hearers were enthralled.

When he sat down the cheering was prolonged. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer, an old friend of his late father, spoke most glowingly to
him and of him in his hearing. The junior Whip hinted at his
contesting a heat at a coming bye-election in the North of Ireland.
A man with his knowledge of Ireland--as he had shown that night--
would be invaluable to his party.

When he left the gathering he was in a condition of ecstasy. Lying
back, amid the cushions, during his long drive home, he closed his
eyes and pictured the future. His imagination ran riot. It took
wings and flew from height to height. He saw himself the leader of a
party--"The Kingsnorth Party!"--controlling his followers with a
hand of iron, and driving them to vote according to his judgment and
his decree.

By the time he reached home be had entered the Cabinet and was being
spoken of as the probable Prime Minister. But for the sudden
stopping of the horses he might have attained that proud
distinction.

The pleasant warmth of the entrance hall on this chill November