Wrangling went on till a quarter past five, when TALBOT interposed, and with most funereal manner moved to report progress. HENEAGE almost mechanically lowered his head and had started to butt at TALBOT as he had upset GEDGE when he was providentially stopped and convinced that further struggle with obstruction was hopeless. So, Clause I. agreed to, Bill talked out. MAKINS, growing increasingly delightful, protested that a Bill that had been fifty years before the country, was not to be rushed through the House on a Wednesday afternoon. _Argal_, the more familiar the House is with the details of a measure, the more necessary is it to debate it. _Business done_.--Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister. Banns again objected to. _Saturday_, 1:25 A M.--Land Bill just through report stage. Nothing left now but Third Reading. "Well, KNOX," said WINDBAG SEXTON, "that will be our last opportunity, and we must make the most of it. In meantime I think we've done pretty well. I'm especially pleased with you. You're a boy of great promise. If anything happened to me--a stray tack in the bench, or a pin maliciously directed, and the wind-bag were to collapse--you'd do capitally, till I got it repaired." WINDBAG JUNIOR blushed. As OLD MORALITY remarks, Ingenuous youth delights in the Approbation of Seasoned Seniority. _Business done_.--Land at last--I mean Land Purchase Bill through at last. * * * * * THE GENERAL OF THE FUTURE. SCENE--_Tent in rear of a Battle-field. Political Officer in attendance upon Army, waiting for Military assistance._ _Political Officer_ (_impatiently_). Now then, Orderly, have you not been able to secure a General for me? _Orderly_ (_saluting_). Beg pardon, Sir, but it's so difficult, since they have passed that new Royal Warrant, to know which is which. _Pol. Off._ (_more impatiently_). Nonsense!--any General Officer will do. _Ord_. Very good, Sir. [_Exit. Political Officer stamps his foot irritably, when enter First General Officer, hurriedly._ _First Gen. Off._ Well, Sir, how can I assist you? _Pol. Off._ (_cordially_). Glad to see you, General. Fact is, supposing we arrange a treaty, do you think it would be wise to surrender the fortress on the right side of the river, if we retain the redoubt near the wood as a basis of operations? You see-- _First Gen. Off._ (_interrupting_). Very sorry, but don't know anything about it. _Pol. Off._ (_annoyed_). But aren't you a General? _First Gen. Off._ Certainly. General-Surgeon. Ta, ta! [_Exit._ _Pol. Off._ Well of all the--(_Enter Second Gen. Off._) Well, Sir, what is it? Who are you? _Second Gen. Off._ I am a General Officer, and I was told you required my poor services. _Pol. Off._ So I do. The fact is, General, supposing we arrange a treaty, do you think it wise for us to surrender the fortress--