"Who are these Irish owners," BRODRICK asked, looking severely across table at JOHN MORLEY, "who want to buy their tenants' interest in order to sell it at a higher price?" "I'll give you their names," cried TIM, after the fashion of the naughty boy safe at the outer edge of a crowd. "I defy the right hon. gentleman to produce a single instance," BRODRICK continued, taking no notice of TIM. "I'll give you half a dozen," shouted TIM, ever ready to oblige, though leaving it in doubt whether the half dozen he offered were lashes or other instances. Then the policeman, in shape of SPEAKER, appeared on scene, and for awhile there was silence on the back benches, and dullness regained its sway. _Business done._--Second Reading Irish Land Bill moved. THURSDAY.--For illustration of soft answer that turneth away wrath, CAWMEL-BANNERMAN'S reply just now on the shamrock incident perfect in its way. The heart of Ireland stirred by fresh stories of how her sons, turning up on parade on St. Patrick's Day proudly wearing shamrock, were ordered by brutal Saxon officers to "fling it on the ground." TIM HEALY had cases brought under his notice. Never do for this branch of United Ireland to appear as sole champion of national rights in this matter. So wearisome WILLIE REDMOND swaggers on scene with another case. A delicate subject for SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR to handle. On one hand, discipline must be maintained. On the other, national sentiment must not be affronted, especially when represented in House by sufficient votes to turn the scale in any division. CAWMEL-BANNERMAN not only said right thing, but said it in right way. "I myself," he murmured with prettily apologetic air, "stand in a somewhat neutral position, because I belong to a country whose national emblem does not lend itself to the convenience of the button-hole." House laughed at idea of CAWMEL-BANNERMAN bustling in on St. Andrew's Day with bunch of thistles in his button-hole. With the laugh the battle was won; what might have been in less skilful hands an awkward incident passed off amid genial laughter. [Illustration: Campbell-Bannerman and his National Emblem (Unsuited to the Convenience of a Button-hole).] _Business done._--Still explaining why we are not going to oppose Second Reading Irish Land Bill, though we regard it as most revolutionary and dangerous measure of recent times. [Illustration: T. W. Russell between Landlord and Tenant.]