This democrat among the Tories, and Tory among the demo-
crats was, however, unable to be present at Nostell Priory, and Sir Stafford North cote wept over his absence. There was always some bitter drop, he said, in the sweetest cup, and the drop of bitterness to him was Lord Randolph's absence. Considering the various amenities which Sir Stafford and Lord Randolph had exchanged in the House of Commons up to the very close of the Session, this outbreak of love for Lord Randolph was very. touching. " He has beaten me," said Mr. Pecksniff, " with a stick which I have every reason to believe had knobs on it, but I'm not angry." Sir Stafford has outdone Mr. Pecksniff. 'He has beaten me,' says Sir Stafford, with a stick which I have every reason to believe had knobs on it, and yet I love him so much that his absence is the one bitter drop in my cup of happiness.' This is more than Christian. It approaches the moral standard of the saints.
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