"The public expectation about the start of all party talks was too high", said an Ulster Unionist delegate at the close of negotiations at Stormont Castle last night.
"People seemed to believe that it would be all over in a day and that there would be huge puffs of white smoke coming from Castle Buildings by nightfall. Well, it's not going to be like that. This whole process could take two years.
Certainly, progress was slow on the initial day. Sources said UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, spoke first before Mr Major and Mr Bruton had even arrived.
He reportedly told the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew that the rules, procedures and agenda for talks were unacceptable. The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, then questioned Mr Bruton's status at the talks.
He wanted to establish if Mr Bruton would be treated as a delegation leader or a convenor. Sir Patrick, who chaired yesterday's meeting, is said to have reassured Dr Paisley on the nature of the Taoiseach's role.
The DUP leader said that he had received a letter from the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, "the foreign secretary of a foreign country", inviting him to talks about the future of his own country.
Sir Patrick told him the invitation had been issued by the British government, sources said. The UK Unionist leader, Mr Bob McCartney, is understood to have asked if the negotiations would be democratic or "governed by diktat".
Mr Bruton and Mr Major then arrived and made their opening addresses. Many delegates had expected the DUP to walk out at this stage, but Dr Paisley and his colleagues remained.
Mr Bruton was not heckled during his address, although Dr Paisley made murmurings about Articles Two and Three. Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien, another of Mr Bob McCartney's UK Unionist delegates, made a major speech on decommissioning.
Later, discussion centred on the role of former US Senator Mr George Mitchell. The UUP, the DUP and the UK Unionists, are understood to have voiced opposition to the proposal by both governments that Mr Mitchell have an overall role in chairing the talks.
The SDLP, the Women's Coalition and Labour reportedly supported Mr Mitchell having a leading role in negotiations. The fringe loyalist parties backed neither side outright, a unionist delegate stated.
Several sources said the UUP, the DUP, and the UK Unionists presented a fairly united front. "They acted in relative concert during the day and successfully unpicked the British and Irish governments' agenda," he said.
A UUP delegate said he felt sorry if Mr Mitchell had been embarrassed by unionist objections. "He shouldn't take it personally. I think there is a job for him there, perhaps chairing a decommissioning sub committee."
The delegate said the SDLP seemed disappointed by proceedings. The party leader, Mr John Hume, its deputy, Mr Seamus Mallon, and chief whip, Mr Eddie McGrady, all spoke at the talks.
"But they seemed glum," said the source. "Their agenda concerning George Mitchell was torn asunder. I don't think they expected us to be quite as successful as we were."
The delegate understood that the meeting had ended at 6 p.m. at Dublin's request. "I believe that they didn't want any more wrangling in public. They will want to do business with the British government behind the scenes.
"The SDLP will be furiously lobbying Dick Spring to pressurise the British into being more forceful with the unionists," he said. However, he wondered whether both governments would be able to "cobble together" alternative proposals for the next round of talks which start today at 9 a.m.