FIRST SERIES PLAYS By John Galsworthy STRIFE A DRAMA IN THREE ACTS PERSONS OF THE PLAY JOHN ANTHONY, Chairman of the Trenartha Tin Plate WorksEDGAR ANTHONY, his Son FREDERIC H. WILDER, |WILLIAM SCANTLEBURY, | Directors Of the sameOLIVER WANKLIN, | HENRY TENCH, Secretary of the sameFRANCIS UNDERWOOD, C. E. , Manager of the sameSIMON HARNESS, a Trades Union official DAVID ROBERTS, |JAMES GREEN, |JOHN BULGIN, | the workmen's committeeHENRY THOMAS, |GEORGE ROUS, | HENRY ROUS, |LEWIS, |JAGO, |EVANS, | workman at the Trenartha Tin Plate WorksA BLACKSMITH, |DAVIES, |A RED-HAIRED YOUTH. |BROWN | FROST, valet to John AnthonyENID UNDERWOOD, Wife of Francis Underwood, daughter of John AnthonyANNIE ROBERTS, wife of David RobertsMADGE THOMAS, daughter of Henry ThomasMRS. ROUS, mother of George and Henry RousMRS. BULGIN, wife of John BulginMRS. YEO, wife of a workmanA PARLOURMAID to the UnderwoodsJAN, Madge's brother, a boy of tenA CROWD OF MEN ON STRIKE ACT I. The dining-room of the Manager's house. ACT II, SCENE I. The kitchen of the Roberts's cottage near the works. SCENE II. A space outside the works. ACT III. The drawing-room of the Manager's house. The action takes place on February 7th between the hours of noon andsix in the afternoon, close to the Trenartha Tin Plate Works, on theborders of England and Wales, where a strike has been in progressthroughout the winter. ACT I It is noon. In the Underwoods' dining-room a bright fire is burning. On one side of the fireplace are double-doors leading to the drawing-room, on the other side a door leading to the hall. In the centre of the room a long dining-table without a cloth is set out as a Board table. At the head of it, in the Chairman's seat, sits JOHN ANTHONY, an old man, big, clean-shaven, and high-coloured, with thick white hair, and thick dark eyebrows. His movements are rather slow and feeble, but his eyes are very much alive. There is a glass of water by his side. On his right sits his son EDGAR, an earnest-looking man of thirty, reading a newspaper. Next him WANKLIN, a man with jutting eyebrows, and silver-streaked light hair, is bending over transfer papers. TENCH, the Secretary, a short and rather humble, nervous man, with side whiskers, stands helping him. On WANKLIN'S right sits UNDERWOOD, the Manager, a quiet man, with along, stiff jaw, and steady eyes. Back to the fire is SCANTLEBURY, a very large, pale, sleepy man, with grey hair, rather bald. Between him and the Chairman are two empty chairs. WILDER. [Who is lean, cadaverous, and complaining, with droopinggrey moustaches, stands before the fire. ] I say, this fire's thedevil! Can I have a screen, Tench? SCANTLEBURY. A screen, ah! TENCH. Certainly, Mr. Wilder. [He looks at UNDERWOOD. ] That is--perhaps the Manager--perhaps Mr. Underwood---- SCANTLEBURY. These fireplaces of yours, Underwood---- UNDERWOOD. [Roused from studying some papers. ] A screen? Rather!I'm sorry. [He goes to the door with a little smile. ] We're notaccustomed to complaints of too much fire down here just now. [He speaks as though he holds a pipe between his teeth, slowly, ironically. ] WILDER. [In an injured voice. ] You mean the men. H'm! [UNDERWOOD goes out. ] SCANTLEBURY. Poor devils! WILDER. It's their own fault, Scantlebury. EDGAR. [Holding out his paper. ] There's great distress among them, according to the Trenartha News. WILDER. Oh, that rag! Give it to Wanklin. Suit his Radical views. They call us monsters, I suppose. The editor of that rubbish oughtto be shot. EDGAR. [Reading. ] "If the Board of worthy gentlemen who control theTrenartha Tin Plate Works from their arm-chairs in London wouldcondescend to come and see for themselves the conditions prevailingamongst their work-people during this strike----" WILDER. Well, we have come. EDGAR. [Continuing. ] "We cannot believe that even their leg-of-muttonhearts would remain untouched. " [WANKLIN takes the paper from him. ] WILDER. Ruffian! I remember that fellow when he had n't a penny tohis name; little snivel of a chap that's made his way by black-guardingeverybody who takes a different view to himself. [ANTHONY says something that is not heard. ] WILDER. What does your father say? EDGAR. He says "The kettle and the pot. " WILDER. H'm! [He sits down next to SCANTLEBURY. ] SCANTLEBURY. [Blowing out his cheeks. ] I shall boil if I don't getthat screen. [UNDERWOOD and ENID enter with a screen, which they place before the fire. ENID is tall; she has a small, decided face, and is twenty-eight years old. ] ENID. Put it closer, Frank. Will that do, Mr. Wilder? It's thehighest we've got. WILDER. Thanks, capitally. SCANTLEBURY. [Turning, with a sigh of pleasure. ] Ah! Merci, Madame! ENID. Is there anything else you want, Father? [ANTHONY shakes hishead. ] Edgar--anything? EDGAR. You might give me a "J" nib, old girl. ENID. There are some down there by Mr. Scantlebury. SCANTLEBURY. [Handing a little box of nibs. ] Ah! your brother uses"J's. " What does the manager use? [With expansive politeness. ]What does your husband use, Mrs. Underwood? UNDERWOOD. A quill! SCANTLEBURY. The homely product of the goose. [He holds outquills. ] UNDERWOOD. [Drily. ] Thanks, if you can spare me one. [He takes aquill. ] What about lunch, Enid? ENID. [Stopping at the double-doors and looking back. ] We're goingto have lunch here, in the drawing-room, so you need n't hurry withyour meeting. [WANKLIN and WILDER bow, and she goes out. ] SCANTLEBURY. [Rousing himself, suddenly. ] Ah! Lunch! That hotel--Dreadful! Did you try the whitebait last night? Fried fat! WILDER. Past twelve! Are n't you going to read the minutes, Tench? TENCH. [Looking for the CHAIRMAN'S assent, reads in a rapid andmonotonous voice. ] "At a Board Meeting held the 31st of January atthe Company's Offices, 512, Cannon Street, E. C. Present--Mr. Anthonyin the chair, Messrs. F. H. Wilder, William Scantlebury, OliverWanklin, and Edgar Anthony. Read letters from the Manager datedJanuary 20th, 23d, 25th, 28th, relative to the strike at theCompany's Works. Read letters to the Manager of January 21st, 24th, 26th, 29th. Read letter from Mr. Simon Harness, of the CentralUnion, asking for an interview with the Board. Read letter from theMen's Committee, signed David Roberts, James Green, John Bulgin, Henry Thomas, George Rous, desiring conference with the Board; and itwas resolved that a special Board Meeting be called for February 7that the house of the Manager, for the purpose of discussing thesituation with Mr. Simon Harness and the Men's Committee on the spot. Passed twelve transfers, signed and sealed nine certificates and onebalance certificate. " [He pushes the book over to the CHAIRMAN. ] ANTHONY. [With a heavy sigh. ] If it's your pleasure, sign the same. [He signs, moving the pen with difficulty. ] WANKLIN. What's the Union's game, Tench? They have n't made uptheir split with the men. What does Harness want this interview for? TENCH. Hoping we shall come to a compromise, I think, sir; he'shaving a meeting with the men this afternoon. WILDER. Harness! Ah! He's one of those cold-blooded, cool-headedchaps. I distrust them. I don't know that we didn't make a mistaketo come down. What time'll the men be here? UNDERWOOD. Any time now. WILDER. Well, if we're not ready, they'll have to wait--won't dothem any harm to cool their heels a bit. SCANTLEBURY. [Slowly. ] Poor devils! It's snowing. What weather! UNDERWOOD. [With meaning slowness. ] This house'll be the warmestplace they've been in this winter. WILDER. Well, I hope we're going to settle this business in time forme to catch the 6. 30. I've got to take my wife to Spain to-morrow. [Chattily. ] My old father had a strike at his works in '69; justsuch a February as this. They wanted to shoot him. WANKLIN. What! In the close season? WILDER. By George, there was no close season for employers then! Heused to go down to his office with a pistol in his pocket. SCANTLEBURY. [Faintly alarmed. ] Not seriously? WILDER. [With finality. ] Ended in his shootin' one of 'em in thelegs. SCANTLEBURY. [Unavoidably feeling his thigh. ] No? Which? ANTHONY. [Lifting the agenda paper. ] To consider the policy of theBoard in relation to the strike. [There is a silence. ] WILDER. It's this infernal three-cornered duel--the Union, the men, and ourselves. WANKLIN. We need n't consider the Union. WILDER. It's my experience that you've always got to, consider theUnion, confound them! If the Union were going to withdraw theirsupport from the men, as they've done, why did they ever allow themto strike at all? EDGAR. We've had that over a dozen times. WILDER. Well, I've never understood it! It's beyond me. They talkof the engineers' and furnace-men's demands being excessive--so theyare--but that's not enough to make the Union withdraw their support. What's behind it? UNDERWOOD. Fear of strikes at Harper's and Tinewell's. WILDER. [With triumph. ] Afraid of other strikes--now, that's areason! Why could n't we have been told that before? UNDERWOOD. You were. TENCH. You were absent from the Board that day, sir. SCANTLEBURY. The men must have seen they had no chance when theUnion gave them up. It's madness. UNDERWOOD. It's Roberts! WILDER. Just our luck, the men finding a fanatical firebrand likeRoberts for leader. [A pause. ] WANKLIN. [Looking at ANTHONY. ] Well? WILDER. [Breaking in fussily. ] It's a regular mess. I don't likethe position we're in; I don't like it; I've said so for a long time. [Looking at WANKLIN. ] When Wanklin and I came down here beforeChristmas it looked as if the men must collapse. You thought so too, Underwood. UNDERWOOD. Yes. WILDER. Well, they haven't! Here we are, going from bad to worselosing our customers--shares going down! SCANTLEBURY. [Shaking his head. ] M'm! M'm! WANKLIN. What loss have we made by this strike, Tench? TENCH. Over fifty thousand, sir! SCANTLEBURY, [Pained. ] You don't say! WILDER. We shall never got it back. TENCH. No, sir. WILDER. Who'd have supposed the men were going to stick out likethis--nobody suggested that. [Looking angrily at TENCH. ] SCANTLEBURY. [Shaking his head. ] I've never liked a fight--nevershall. ANTHONY. No surrender! [All look at him. ] WILDER. Who wants to surrender? [ANTHONY looks at him. ] I--I wantto act reasonably. When the men sent Roberts up to the Board inDecember--then was the time. We ought to have humoured him; insteadof that the Chairman--[Dropping his eyes before ANTHONY'S]--er--wesnapped his head off. We could have got them in then by a littletact. ANTHONY. No compromise! WILDER. There we are! This strike's been going on now sinceOctober, and as far as I can see it may last another six months. Pretty mess we shall be in by then. The only comfort is, the men'llbe in a worse! EDGAR. [To UNDERWOOD. ] What sort of state are they really in, Frank? UNDERWOOD. [Without expression. ] Damnable! WILDER. Well, who on earth would have thought they'd have held onlike this without support! UNDERWOOD. Those who know them. WILDER. I defy any one to know them! And what about tin? Pricegoing up daily. When we do get started we shall have to work off ourcontracts at the top of the market. WANKLIN. What do you say to that, Chairman? ANTHONY. Can't be helped! WILDER. Shan't pay a dividend till goodness knows when! SCANTLEBURY. [With emphasis. ] We ought to think of theshareholders. [Turning heavily. ] Chairman, I say we ought to thinkof the shareholders. [ANTHONY mutters. ] SCANTLEBURY. What's that? TENCH. The Chairman says he is thinking of you, sir. SCANTLEBURY. [Sinking back into torpor. ] Cynic! WILDER. It's past a joke. I don't want to go without a dividend foryears if the Chairman does. We can't go on playing ducks and drakeswith the Company's prosperity. EDGAR. [Rather ashamedly. ] I think we ought to consider the men. [All but ANTHONY fidget in their seats. ] SCANTLEBURY. [With a sigh. ] We must n't think of our privatefeelings, young man. That'll never do. EDGAR. [Ironically. ] I'm not thinking of our feelings. I'mthinking of the men's. WILDER. As to that--we're men of business. WANKLIN. That is the little trouble. EDGAR. There's no necessity for pushing things so far in the face ofall this suffering--it's--it's cruel. [No one speaks, as though EDGAR had uncovered something whose existence no man prizing his self-respect could afford to recognise. ] WANKLIN. [With an ironical smile. ] I'm afraid we must n't base ourpolicy on luxuries like sentiment. EDGAR. I detest this state of things. ANTHONY. We did n't seek the quarrel. EDGAR. I know that sir, but surely we've gone far enough. ANTHONY. No. [All look at one another. ] WANKLIN. Luxuries apart, Chairman, we must look out what we'redoing. ANTHONY. Give way to the men once and there'll be no end to it. WANKLIN. I quite agree, but---- [ANTHONY Shakes his head] You make it a question of bedrock principle? [ANTHONY nods. ] Luxuries again, Chairman! The shares are below par. WILDER. Yes, and they'll drop to a half when we pass the nextdividend. SCANTLEBURY. [With alarm. ] Come, come! Not so bad as that. WILDER. [Grimly. ] You'll see! [Craning forward to catch ANTHONY'Sspeech. ] I didn't catch---- TENCH. [Hesitating. ] The Chairman says, sir, "Fais que--que--devra. " EDGAR. [Sharply. ] My father says: "Do what we ought--and let thingsrip. " WILDER. Tcha! SCANTLEBURY. [Throwing up his hands. ] The Chairman's a Stoic--Ialways said the Chairman was a Stoic. WILDER. Much good that'll do us. WANKLIN. [Suavely. ] Seriously, Chairman, are you going to let theship sink under you, for the sake of--a principle? ANTHONY. She won't sink. SCANTLEBURY. [With alarm. ] Not while I'm on the Board I hope. ANTHONY. [With a twinkle. ] Better rat, Scantlebury. SCANTLEBURY. What a man! ANTHONY. I've always fought them; I've never been beaten yet. WANKLIN. We're with you in theory, Chairman. But we're not all madeof cast-iron. ANTHONY. We've only to hold on. WILDER. [Rising and going to the fire. ] And go to the devil as fastas we can! ANTHONY. Better go to the devil than give in! WILDER. [Fretfully. ] That may suit you, sir, but it does n't suitme, or any one else I should think. [ANTHONY looks him in the face-a silence. ] EDGAR. I don't see how we can get over it that to go on like thismeans starvation to the men's wives and families. [WILDER turns abruptly to the fire, and SCANTLEBURY puts out a hand to push the idea away. ] WANKLIN. I'm afraid again that sounds a little sentimental. EDGAR. Men of business are excused from decency, you think? WILDER. Nobody's more sorry for the men than I am, but if they[lashing himself] choose to be such a pig-headed lot, it's nothingto do with us; we've quite enough on our hands to think of ourselvesand the shareholders. EDGAR. [Irritably. ] It won't kill the shareholders to miss adividend or two; I don't see that that's reason enough for knucklingunder. SCANTLEBURY. [With grave discomfort. ] You talk very lightly of yourdividends, young man; I don't know where we are. WILDER. There's only one sound way of looking at it. We can't go onruining ourselves with this strike. ANTHONY. No caving in! SCANTLEBURY. [With a gesture of despair. ] Look at him! [ANTHONY'S leaning back in his chair. They do look at him. ] WILDER. [Returning to his seat. ] Well, all I can say is, if that'sthe Chairman's view, I don't know what we've come down here for. ANTHONY. To tell the men that we've got nothing for them----[Grimly. ] They won't believe it till they hear it spoken in plainEnglish. WILDER. H'm! Shouldn't be a bit surprised if that brute Roberts hadn't got us down here with the very same idea. I hate a man with agrievance. EDGAR. [Resentfully. ] We didn't pay him enough for his discovery. I always said that at the time. WILDER. We paid him five hundred and a bonus of two hundred threeyears later. If that's not enough! What does he want, for goodness'sake? TENCH. [Complainingly. ] Company made a hundred thousand out of hisbrains, and paid him seven hundred--that's the way he goes on, sir. WILDER. The man's a rank agitator! Look here, I hate the Unions. But now we've got Harness here let's get him to settle the wholething. ANTHONY. No! [Again they look at him. ] UNDERWOOD. Roberts won't let the men assent to that. SCANTLEBURY. Fanatic! Fanatic! WILDER. [Looking at ANTHONY. ] And not the only one! [FROST entersfrom the hall. ] FROST. [To ANTHONY. ] Mr. Harness from the Union, waiting, sir. Themen are here too, sir. [ANTHONY nods. UNDERWOOD goes to the door, returning with HARNESS, a pale, clean-shaven man with hollow cheeks, quick eyes, and lantern jaw--FROST has retired. ] UNDERWOOD. [Pointing to TENCH'S chair. ] Sit there next theChairman, Harness, won't you? [At HARNESS'S appearance, the Board have drawn together, as it were, and turned a little to him, like cattle at a dog. ] HARNESS. [With a sharp look round, and a bow. ] Thanks! [He sits---his accent is slightly nasal. ] Well, gentlemen, we're going to dobusiness at last, I hope. WILDER. Depends on what you call business, Harness. Why don't youmake the men come in? HARNESS. [Sardonically. ] The men are far more in the right than youare. The question with us is whether we shan't begin to support themagain. [He ignores them all, except ANTHONY, to whom he turns in speaking. ] ANTHONY. Support them if you like; we'll put in free labour and havedone with it. HARNESS. That won't do, Mr. Anthony. You can't get free labour, andyou know it. ANTHONY. We shall see that. HARNESS. I'm quite frank with you. We were forced to withhold oursupport from your men because some of their demands are in excess ofcurrent rates. I expect to make them withdraw those demands to-day:if they do, take it straight from me, gentlemen, we shall back themagain at once. Now, I want to see something fixed upon before I goback to-night. Can't we have done with this old-fashioned tug-of-warbusiness? What good's it doing you? Why don't you recognise oncefor all that these people are men like yourselves, and want what'sgood for them just as you want what's good for you [Bitterly. ] Yourmotor-cars, and champagne, and eight-course dinners. ANTHONY. If the men will come in, we'll do something for them. HARNESS. [Ironically. ] Is that your opinion too, sir--and yours--and yours? [The Directors do not answer. ] Well, all I can say is:It's a kind of high and mighty aristocratic tone I thought we'd grownout of--seems I was mistaken. ANTHONY. It's the tone the men use. Remains to be seen which canhold out longest--they without us, or we without them. HARNESS. As business men, I wonder you're not ashamed of this wasteof force, gentlemen. You know what it'll all end in. ANTHONY. What? HARNESS. Compromise--it always does. SCANTLEBURY. Can't you persuade the men that their interests are thesame as ours? HARNESS. [Turning, ironically. ] I could persuade them of that, sir, if they were. WILDER. Come, Harness, you're a clever man, you don't believe allthe Socialistic claptrap that's talked nowadays. There 's no realdifference between their interests and ours. HARNESS. There's just one very simple question I'd like to put toyou. Will you pay your men one penny more than they force you to paythem? [WILDER is silent. ] WANKLIN. [Chiming in. ] I humbly thought that not to pay more thanwas necessary was the A B C of commerce. HARNESS. [With irony. ] Yes, that seems to be the A B C of commerce, sir; and the A B C of commerce is between your interests and themen's. SCANTLEBURY. [Whispering. ] We ought to arrange something. HARNESS. [Drily. ] Am I to understand then, gentlemen, that yourBoard is going to make no concessions? [WANKLIN and WILDER bend forward as if to speak, but stop. ] ANTHONY. [Nodding. ] None. [WANKLIN and WILDER again bend forward, and SCANTLEBURY gives an unexpected grunt. ] HARNESS. You were about to say something, I believe? [But SCANTLEBURY says nothing. ] EDGAR. [Looking up suddenly. ] We're sorry for the state of the men. HARNESS. [Icily. ] The men have no use for your pity, sir. Whatthey want is justice. ANTHONY. Then let them be just. HARNESS. For that word "just" read "humble, " Mr. Anthony. Whyshould they be humble? Barring the accident of money, are n't theyas good men as you? ANTHONY. Cant! HARNESS. Well, I've been five years in America. It colours a man'snotions. SCANTLEBURY. [Suddenly, as though avenging his uncompleted grunt. ]Let's have the men in and hear what they've got to say! [ANTHONY nods, and UNDERWOOD goes out by the single door. ] HARNESS. [Drily. ] As I'm to have an interview with them thisafternoon, gentlemen, I 'll ask you to postpone your final decisiontill that's over. [Again ANTHONY nods, and taking up his glass drinks. ] [UNDERWOOD comes in again, followed by ROBERTS, GREEN, BULGIN, THOMAS, ROUS. They file in, hat in hand, and stand silent in a row. ROBERTS is lean, of middle height, with a slight stoop. He has a little rat-gnawn, brown-grey beard, moustaches, high cheek-bones, hollow cheeks, small fiery eyes. He wears an old and grease-stained blue serge suit, and carries an old bowler hat. He stands nearest the Chairman. GREEN, next to him, has a clean, worn face, with a small grey goatee beard and drooping moustaches, iron spectacles, and mild, straightforward eyes. He wears an overcoat, green with age, and a linen collar. Next to him is BULGIN, a tall, strong man, with a dark moustache, and fighting jaw, wearing a red muffler, who keeps changing his cap from one hand to the other. Next to him is THOMAS, an old man with a grey moustache, full beard, and weatherbeaten, bony face, whose overcoat discloses a lean, plucked-looking neck. On his right, ROUS, the youngest of the five, looks like a soldier; he has a glitter in his eyes. ] UNDERWOOD. [Pointing. ] There are some chairs there against thewall, Roberts; won't you draw them up and sit down? ROBERTS. Thank you, Mr. Underwood--we'll stand in the presence ofthe Board. [He speaks in a biting and staccato voice, rolling hisr's, pronouncing his a's like an Italian a, and his consonants shortand crisp. ] How are you, Mr. Harness? Did n't expect t' have thepleasure of seeing you till this afternoon. HARNESS. [Steadily. ] We shall meet again then, Roberts. ROBERTS. Glad to hear that; we shall have some news for you to taketo your people. ANTHONY. What do the men want? ROBERTS. [Acidly. ] Beg pardon, I don't quite catch the Chairman'sremark. TENCH. [From behind the Chairman's chair. ] The Chairman wishes toknow what the men have to say. ROBERTS. It's what the Board has to say we've come to hear. It'sfor the Board to speak first. ANTHONY. The Board has nothing to say. ROBERTS. [Looking along the line of men. ] In that case we'rewasting the Directors' time. We'll be taking our feet off thispretty carpet. [He turns, the men move slowly, as though hypnotically influenced. ] WANKLIN: [Suavely. ] Come, Roberts, you did n't give us this longcold journey for the pleasure of saying that. THOMAS. [A pure Welshman. ] No, sir, an' what I say iss---- ROBERTS. [Bitingly. ] Go on, Henry Thomas, go on. You 're better ableto speak to the--Directors than me. [THOMAS is silent. ] TENCH. The Chairman means, Roberts, that it was the men who askedfor the conference, the Board wish to hear what they have to say. ROBERTS. Gad! If I was to begin to tell ye all they have to say, Iwouldn't be finished to-day. And there'd be some that'd wish they'dnever left their London palaces. HARNESS. What's your proposition, man? Be reasonable. ROBERTS. You want reason Mr. Harness? Take a look round thisafternoon before the meeting. [He looks at the men; no sound escapesthem. ] You'll see some very pretty scenery. HARNESS. All right my friend; you won't put me off. ROBERTS. [To the men. ] We shan't put Mr. Harness off. Have somechampagne with your lunch, Mr. Harness; you'll want it, sir. HARNESS. Come, get to business, man! THOMAS. What we're asking, look you, is just simple justice. ROBERTS. [Venomously. ] Justice from London? What are you talkingabout, Henry Thomas? Have you gone silly? [THOMAS is silent. ] Weknow very well what we are--discontented dogs--never satisfied. Whatdid the Chairman tell me up in London? That I did n't know what Iwas talking about. I was a foolish, uneducated man, that knewnothing of the wants of the men I spoke for. EDGAR. Do please keep to the point. ANTHONY. [Holding up his hand. ] There can only be one master, Roberts. ROBERTS. Then, be Gad, it'll be us. [There is a silence; ANTHONY and ROBERTS stare at one another. ] UNDERWOOD. If you've nothing to say to the Directors, Roberts, perhaps you 'll let Green or Thomas speak for the men. [GREEN and THOMAS look anxiously at ROBERTS, at each other, and the other men. ] GREEN. [An Englishman. ] If I'd been listened to, gentlemen---- THOMAS. What I'fe got to say iss what we'fe all got to say---- ROBERTS. Speak for yourself, Henry Thomas. SCANTLEBURY. [With a gesture of deep spiritual discomfort. ] Let thepoor men call their souls their own! ROBERTS. Aye, they shall keep their souls, for it's not much bodythat you've left them, Mr. [with biting emphasis, as though the wordwere an offence] Scantlebury! [To the men. ] Well, will you speak, or shall I speak for you? ROUS. [Suddenly. ] Speak out, Roberts, or leave it to others. ROBERTS. [Ironically. ] Thank you, George Rous. [Addressing himselfto ANTHONY. ] The Chairman and Board of Directors have honoured us byleaving London and coming all this way to hear what we've got to say;it would not be polite to keep them any longer waiting. WILDER. Well, thank God for that! ROBERTS. Ye will not dare to thank Him when I have done, Mr. Wilder, for all your piety. May be your God up in London has no time tolisten to the working man. I'm told He is a wealthy God; but if helistens to what I tell Him, He will know more than ever He learned inKensington. HARNESS. Come, Roberts, you have your own God. Respect the God ofother men. ROBERTS. That's right, sir. We have another God down here; I doubtHe is rather different to Mr. Wilder's. Ask Henry Thomas; he willtell you whether his God and Mr. Wilder's are the same. [THOMAS lifts his hand, and cranes his head as though to prophesy. ] WANKLIN. For goodness' sake, let 's keep to the point, Roberts. ROBERTS. I rather think it is the point, Mr. Wanklin. If you canget the God of Capital to walk through the streets of Labour, and payattention to what he sees, you're a brighter man than I take you for, for all that you're a Radical. ANTHONY. Attend to me, Roberts! [Roberts is silent. ] You are hereto speak for the men, as I am here to speak for the Board. [He looks slowly round. ] [WILDER, WANKLIN, and SCANTLEBURY make movements of uneasiness, and EDGAR gazes at the floor. A faint smile comes on HARNESS'S face. ] Now then, what is it? ROBERTS. Right, Sir! [Throughout all that follows, he and ANTHONY look fixedly upon each other. Men and Directors show in their various ways suppressed uneasiness, as though listening to words that they themselves would not have spoken. ] The men can't afford to travel up to London; and they don't trust youto believe what they say in black and white. They know what the postis [he darts a look at UNDERWOOD and TENCH], and what Directors'meetings are: "Refer it to the manager--let the manager advise us onthe men's condition. Can we squeeze them a little more?" UNDERWOOD. [In a low voice. ] Don't hit below the belt, Roberts! ROBERTS. Is it below the belt, Mr. Underwood? The men know. When Icame up to London, I told you the position straight. An' what cameof it? I was told I did n't know what I was talkin' about. I can'tafford to travel up to London to be told that again. ANTHONY. What have you to say for the men? ROBERTS. I have this to say--and first as to their condition. Yeshall 'ave no need to go and ask your manager. Ye can't squeeze themany more. Every man of us is well-nigh starving. [A surprisedmurmur rises from the men. ROBERTS looks round. ] Ye wonder why Itell ye that? Every man of us is going short. We can't be no worseoff than we've been these weeks past. Ye need n't think that bywaiting yell drive us to come in. We'll die first, the whole lot ofus. The men have sent for ye to know, once and for all, whether yeare going to grant them their demands. I see the sheet of paper inthe Secretary's hand. [TENCH moves nervously. ] That's it, I think, Mr. Tench. It's not very large. TENCH. [Nodding. ] Yes. ROBERTS. There's not one sentence of writing on that paper that wecan do without. [A movement amongst the men. ROBERTS turns on them sharply. ] Isn't that so? [The men assent reluctantly. ANTHONY takes from TENCH the paper and peruses it. ] Not one single sentence. All those demands are fair. We have not. Asked anything that we are not entitled to ask. What I said up inLondon, I say again now: there is not anything on that piece of paperthat a just man should not ask, and a just man give. [A pause. ] ANTHONY. There is not one single demand on this paper that we willgrant. [In the stir that follows on these words, ROBERTS watches the Directors and ANTHONY the men. WILDER gets up abruptly and goes over to the fire. ] ROBERTS. D' ye mean that? ANTHONY. I do. [WILDER at the fire makes an emphatic movement of disgust. ] ROBERTS. [Noting it, with dry intensity. ] Ye best know whether thecondition of the Company is any better than the condition of the men. [Scanning the Directors' faces. ] Ye best know whether ye can affordyour tyranny--but this I tell ye: If ye think the men will give waythe least part of an inch, ye're making the worst mistake ye evermade. [He fixes his eyes on SCANTLEBURY. ] Ye think because theUnion is not supporting us--more shame to it!--that we'll be comingon our knees to you one fine morning. Ye think because the men havegot their wives an' families to think of--that it's just a questionof a week or two---- ANTHONY. It would be better if you did not speculate so much on whatwe think. ROBERTS. Aye! It's not much profit to us! I will say this for you, Mr. Anthony--ye know your own mind! [Staying at ANTHONY. ] I canreckon on ye! ANTHONY. [Ironically. ] I am obliged to you! ROBERTS. And I know mine. I tell ye this: The men will send theirwives and families where the country will have to keep them; an' theywill starve sooner than give way. I advise ye, Mr. Anthony, toprepare yourself for the worst that can happen to your Company. Weare not so ignorant as you might suppose. We know the way the cat isjumping. Your position is not all that it might be--not exactly! ANTHONY. Be good enough to allow us to judge of our position forourselves. Go back, and reconsider your own. ROBERTS. [Stepping forward. ] Mr. Anthony, you are not a young mannow; from the time I remember anything ye have been an enemy to everyman that has come into your works. I don't say that ye're a meanman, or a cruel man, but ye've grudged them the say of any word intheir own fate. Ye've fought them down four times. I've heard yesay ye love a fight--mark my words--ye're fighting the last fightye'll ever fight! [TENCH touches ROBERTS'S sleeve. ] UNDERWOOD. Roberts! Roberts! ROBERTS. Roberts! Roberts! I must n't speak my mind to theChairman, but the Chairman may speak his mind to me! WILDER. What are things coming to? ANTHONY, [With a grim smile at WILDER. ] Go on, Roberts; say what youlike! ROBERTS. [After a pause. ] I have no more to say. ANTHONY. The meeting stands adjourned to five o'clock. WANKLIN. [In a low voice to UNDERWOOD. ] We shall never settleanything like this. ROBERTS. [Bitingly. ] We thank the Chairman and Board of Directorsfor their gracious hearing. [He moves towards the door; the men cluster together stupefied; then ROUS, throwing up his head, passes ROBERTS and goes out. The others follow. ] ROBERTS. [With his hand on the door--maliciously. ] Good day, gentlemen! [He goes out. ] HARNESS. [Ironically. ] I congratulate you on the conciliatoryspirit that's been displayed. With your permission, gentlemen, I'llbe with you again at half-past five. Good morning! [He bows slightly, rests his eyes on ANTHONY, who returns his stare unmoved, and, followed by UNDERWOOD, goes out. There is a moment of uneasy silence. UNDERWOOD reappears in the doorway. ] WILDER. [With emphatic disgust. ] Well! [The double-doors are opened. ] ENID. [Standing in the doorway. ] Lunch is ready. [EDGAR, getting up abruptly, walks out past his sister. ] WILDER. Coming to lunch, Scantlebury? SCANTLEBURY. [Rising heavily. ] I suppose so, I suppose so. It'sthe only thing we can do. [They go out through the double-doors. ] WANKLIN. [In a low voice. ] Do you really meanto fight to a finish, Chairman? [ANTHONY nods. ] WANKLIN. Take care! The essence of things is to know when to stop. [ANTHONY does not answer. ] WANKLIN. [Very gravely. ] This way disaster lies. The ancientTrojans were fools to your father, Mrs. Underwood. [He goes outthrough the double-doors. ] ENID. I want to speak to father, Frank. [UNDERWOOD follows WANKLIN Out. TENCH, passing round the table, is restoring order to the scattered pens and papers. ] ENID. Are n't you coming, Dad? [ANTHONY Shakes his head. ENID looks meaningly at TENCH. ] ENID. Won't you go and have some lunch, Mr. Tench? TENCH. [With papers in his hand. ] Thank you, ma'am, thank you! [Hegoes slowly, looking back. ] ENID. [Shutting the doors. ] I do hope it's settled, Father! ANTHONY. No! ENID. [Very disappointed. ] Oh! Have n't you done anything! [ANTHONY shakes his head. ] ENID. Frank says they all want to come to a compromise, really, except that man Roberts. ANTHONY. I don't. ENID. It's such a horrid position for us. If you were the wife ofthe manager, and lived down here, and saw it all. You can't realise, Dad! ANTHONY. Indeed? ENID. We see all the distress. You remember my maid Annie, whomarried Roberts? [ANTHONY nods. ] It's so wretched, her heart'sweak; since the strike began, she has n't even been getting properfood. I know it for a fact, Father. ANTHONY. Give her what she wants, poor woman! ENID. Roberts won't let her take anything from us. ANTHONY. [Staring before him. ] I can't be answerable for the men'sobstinacy. ENID. They're all suffering. Father! Do stop it, for my sake! ANTHONY. [With a keen look at her. ] You don't understand, my dear. ENID. If I were on the Board, I'd do something. ANTHONY. What would you do? ENID. It's because you can't bear to give way. It's so---- ANTHONY. Well? ENID. So unnecessary. ANTHONY. What do you know about necessity? Read your novels, playyour music, talk your talk, but don't try and tell me what's at thebottom of a struggle like this. ENID. I live down here, and see it. ANTHONY. What d' you imagine stands between you and your class andthese men that you're so sorry for? ENID. [Coldly. ] I don't know what you mean, Father. ANTHONY. In a few years you and your children would be down in thecondition they're in, but for those who have the eyes to see thingsas they are and the backbone to stand up for themselves. ENID. You don't know the state the men are in. ANTHONY. I know it well enough. ENID. You don't, Father; if you did, you would n't ANTHONY. It's you who don't know the simple facts of the position. What sort of mercy do you suppose you'd get if no one stood betweenyou and the continual demands of labour? This sort of mercy--[He puts his hand up to his throat and squeezes it. ] First would goyour sentiments, my dear; then your culture, and your comforts wouldbe going all the time! ENID. I don't believe in barriers between classes. ANTHONY. You--don't--believe--in--barriers--between the classes? ENID. [Coldly. ] And I don't know what that has to do with thisquestion. ANTHONY. It will take a generation or two for you to understand. ENID. It's only you and Roberts, Father, and you know it! [ANTHONY thrusts out his lower lip. ] It'll ruin the Company. ANTHONY. Allow me to judge of that. ENID. [Resentfully. ] I won't stand by and let poor Annie Robertssuffer like this! And think of the children, Father! I warn you. ANTHONY. [With a grim smile. ] What do you propose to do? ENID. That's my affair. [ANTHONY only looks at her. ] ENID. [In a changed voice, stroking his sleeve. ] Father, you knowyou oughtn't to have this strain on you--you know what Dr. Fishersaid! ANTHONY. No old man can afford to listen to old women. ENID. But you have done enough, even if it really is such a matterof principle with you. ANTHONY. You think so? ENID. Don't Dad! [Her face works. ] You--you might think of us! ANTHONY. I am. ENID. It'll break you down. ANTHONY. [Slowly. ] My dear, I am not going to funk; on that you mayrely. [Re-enter TENCH with papers; he glances at them, then plucking up courage. ] TENCH. Beg pardon, Madam, I think I'd rather see these papers weredisposed of before I get my lunch. [ENID, after an impatient glance at him, looks at her father, turns suddenly, and goes into the drawing-room. ] TENCH. [Holding the papers and a pen to ANTHONY, very nervously. ]Would you sign these for me, please sir? [ANTHONY takes the pen and signs. ] TENCH. [Standing with a sheet of blotting-paper behind EDGAR'Schair, begins speaking nervously. ] I owe my position to you, sir. ANTHONY. Well? TENCH. I'm obliged to see everything that's going on, sir; I--Idepend upon the Company entirely. If anything were to happen to it, it'd be disastrous for me. [ANTHONY nods. ] And, of course, mywife's just had another; and so it makes me doubly anxious just now. And the rates are really terrible down our way. ANTHONY. [With grim amusement. ] Not more terrible than they are upmine. TENCH. No, Sir? [Very nervously. ] I know the Company means a greatdeal to you, sir. ANTHONY. It does; I founded it. TENCH. Yes, Sir. If the strike goes on it'll be very serious. Ithink the Directors are beginning to realise that, sir. ANTHONY. [Ironically. ] Indeed? TENCH. I know you hold very strong views, sir, and it's always yourhabit to look things in the face; but I don't think the Directors--like it, sir, now they--they see it. ANTHONY. [Grimly. ] Nor you, it seems. TENCH. [With the ghost of a smile. ] No, sir; of course I've got mychildren, and my wife's delicate; in my position I have to think ofthese things. [ANTHONY nods. ] It was n't that I was going to say, sir, if you'll excuse me----[hesitates] ANTHONY. Out with it, then! TENCH. I know--from my own father, sir, that when you get on in lifeyou do feel things dreadfully---- ANTHONY. [Almost paternally. ] Come, out with it, Trench! TENCH. I don't like to say it, sir. ANTHONY. [Stonily. ] You Must. TENCH. [After a pause, desperately bolting it out. ] I think theDirectors are going to throw you over, sir. ANTHONY. [Sits in silence. ] Ring the bell! [TENCH nervously rings the bell and stands by the fire. ] TENCH. Excuse me for saying such a thing. I was only thinking ofyou, sir. [FROST enters from the hall, he comes to the foot of the table, and looks at ANTHONY; TENCH coveys his nervousness by arranging papers. ] ANTHONY. Bring me a whiskey and soda. FROST. Anything to eat, sir? [ANTHONY shakes his head. FROST goes to the sideboard, and prepares the drink. ] TENCH. [In a low voice, almost supplicating. ] If you could see yourway, sir, it would be a great relief to my mind, it would indeed. [He looks up at ANTHONY, who has not moved. ] It does make me so veryanxious. I haven't slept properly for weeks, sir, and that's a fact. [ANTHONY looks in his face, then slowly shakes his head. ] [Disheartened. ] No, Sir? [He goes on arranging papers. ] [FROST places the whiskey and salver and puts it down by ANTHONY'S right hand. He stands away, looking gravely at ANTHONY. ] FROST. Nothing I can get you, sir? [ANTHONY shakes his head. ] You're aware, sir, of what the doctor said, sir? ANTHONY. I am. [A pause. FROST suddenly moves closer to him, and speaks in a low voice. ] FROST. This strike, sir; puttin' all this strain on you. Excuse me, sir, is it--is it worth it, sir? [ANTHONY mutters some words that are inaudible. ] Very good, sir! [He turns and goes out into the hall. TENCH makes two attempts to speak; but meeting his Chairman's gaze he drops his eyes, and, turning dismally, he too goes out. ANTHONY is left alone. He grips the glass, tilts it, and drinks deeply; then sets it down with a deep and rumbling sigh, and leans back in his chair. ] The curtain falls. ACT II SCENE I It is half-past three. In the kitchen of Roberts's cottage a meagre little fire is burning. The room is clean and tidy, very barely furnished, with a brick floor and white-washed walls, much stained with smoke. There is a kettle on the fire. A door opposite the fireplace opens inward from a snowy street. On the wooden table are a cup and saucer, a teapot, knife, and plate of bread and cheese. Close to the fireplace in an old arm-chair, wrapped in a rug, sits MRS. ROBERTS, a thin and dark-haired woman about thirty-five, with patient eyes. Her hair is not done up, but tied back with a piece of ribbon. By the fire, too, is MRS. YEO; a red-haired, broad-faced person. Sitting near the table is MRS. ROUS, an old lady, ashen-white, with silver hair; by the door, standing, as if about to go, is MRS. BULGIN, a little pale, pinched-up woman. In a chair, with her elbows resting on the table, avid her face resting in her hands, sits MADGE THOMAS, a good-looking girl, of twenty-two, with high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and dark untidy hair. She is listening to the talk, but she neither speaks nor moves. MRS. YEO. So he give me a sixpence, and that's the first bit o'money I seen this week. There an't much 'eat to this fire. Come andwarm yerself Mrs. Rous, you're lookin' as white as the snow, you are. MRS. ROUS. [Shivering--placidly. ] Ah! but the winter my old manwas took was the proper winter. Seventy-nine that was, when none ofyou was hardly born--not Madge Thomas, nor Sue Bulgin. [Looking atthem in turn. ] Annie Roberts, 'ow old were you, dear? MRS ROBERTS. Seven, Mrs. Rous. MRS. ROUS. Seven--well, there! A tiny little thing! MRS. YEO. [Aggressively. ] Well, I was ten myself, I remembers it. MRS. Rous. [Placidly. ] The Company hadn't been started three years. Father was workin' on the acid, that's 'ow he got 'is pisoned-leg. I kep' sayin' to 'im, "Father, you've got a pisoned leg. " "Well, " 'esaid, "Mother, pison or no pison, I can't afford to go a-layin' up. "An' two days after, he was on 'is back, and never got up again. Itwas Providence! There was n't none o' these Compensation Acts then. MRS. YEO. Ye had n't no strike that winter! [With grim humour. ]This winter's 'ard enough for me. Mrs. Roberts, you don't want no'arder winter, do you? Wouldn't seem natural to 'ave a dinner, wouldit, Mrs. Bulgin? MRS. BULGIN. We've had bread and tea last four days. MRS. YEO. You got that Friday's laundry job? MRS. BULGIN. [Dispiritedly. ] They said they'd give it me, but whenI went last Friday, they were full up. I got to go again next week. MRS. YEO. Ah! There's too many after that. I send Yeo out on theice to put on the gentry's skates an' pick up what 'e can. Stops 'imfrom broodin' about the 'ouse. MRS. BULGIN. [In a desolate, matter-of-fact voice. ] Leavin' out themen--it's bad enough with the children. I keep 'em in bed, theydon't get so hungry when they're not running about; but they're thatrestless in bed they worry your life out. MRS. YEO. You're lucky they're all so small. It 's the goin' toschool that makes 'em 'ungry. Don't Bulgin give you anythin'? MRS. BULGIN. [Shakes her head, then, as though by afterthought. ]Would if he could, I s'pose. MRS. YEO. [Sardonically. ] What! 'Ave n't 'e got no shares in theCompany? MRS. ROUS. [Rising with tremulous cheerfulness. ] Well, good-bye, Annie Roberts, I'm going along home. MRS. ROBERTS. Stay an' have a cup of tea, Mrs. Rous? MRS. ROUS. [With the faintest smile. ] Roberts 'll want 'is tea whenhe comes in. I'll just go an' get to bed; it's warmer there thananywhere. [She moves very shakily towards the door. ] MRS. YEO. [Rising and giving her an arm. ] Come on, Mother, take myarm; we're all going' the same way. MRS. ROUS. [Taking the arm. ]Thank you, my dearies! [THEY go out, followed by MRS. BULGIN. ] MADGE. [Moving for the first time. ] There, Annie, you see that! Itold George Rous, "Don't think to have my company till you've made anend of all this trouble. You ought to be ashamed, " I said, "withyour own mother looking like a ghost, and not a stick to put on thefire. So long as you're able to fill your pipes, you'll let usstarve. " "I 'll take my oath, Madge, " he said, "I 've not had smokenor drink these three weeks!" "Well, then, why do you go on withit?" "I can't go back on Roberts!" . . . That's it! Roberts, always Roberts! They'd all drop it but for him. When he talks it'sthe devil that comes into them. [A silence. MRS. ROBERTS makes a movement of pain. ] Ah! You don't want him beaten! He's your man. With everybody liketheir own shadows! [She makes a gesture towards MRS. ROBERTS. ] IfROUS wants me he must give up Roberts. If he gave him up--they allwould. They're only waiting for a lead. Father's against him--they're all against him in their hearts. MRS. ROBERTS. You won't beat Roberts! [They look silently at each other. ] MADGE. Won't I? The cowards--when their own mothers and their ownchildren don't know where to turn. MRS. ROBERTS. Madge! MADGE. [Looking searchingly at MRS. ROBERTS. ] I wonder he can lookyou in the face. [She squats before the fire, with her hands out tothe flame. ] Harness is here again. They'll have to make up theirminds to-day. MRS. ROBERTS. [In a soft, slow voice, with a slight West-countryburr. ] Roberts will never give up the furnace-men and engineers. 'T wouldn't be right. MADGE. You can't deceive me. It's just his pride. [A tapping at the door is heard, the women turn as ENID enters. She wears a round fur cap, and a jacket of squirrel's fur. She closes the door behind her. ] ENID. Can I come in, Annie? MRS. ROBERTS. [Flinching. ] Miss Enid! Give Mrs. Underwood a chair, Madge! [MADGE gives ENID the chair she has been sitting on. ] ENID. Thank you! ENID. Are you any better? MRS. ROBERTS. Yes, M'm; thank you, M'm. ENID. [Looking at the sullen MADGE as though requesting herdeparture. ] Why did you send back the jelly? I call that reallywicked of you! MRS. ROBERTS. Thank you, M'm, I'd no need for it. ENID. Of course! It was Roberts's doing, wasn't it? How can he letall this suffering go on amongst you? MADGE. [Suddenly. ] What suffering? ENID. [Surprised. ] I beg your pardon! MADGE. Who said there was suffering? MRS. ROBERTS. Madge! MADGE. [Throwing her shawl over her head. ] Please to let us keepourselves to ourselves. We don't want you coming here and spying onus. ENID. [Confronting her, but without rising. ] I did n't speak toyou. MADGE. [In a low, fierce voice. ] Keep your kind feelings toyourself. You think you can come amongst us, but you're mistaken. Go back and tell the Manager that. ENID. [Stonily. ] This is not your house. MADGE. [Turning to the door. ] No, it is not my house; keep clear ofmy house, Mrs. Underwood. [She goes out. ENID taps her fingers on the table. ] MRS. ROBERTS. Please to forgive Madge Thomas, M'm; she's a bit upsetto-day. [A pause. ] ENID. [Looking at her. ] Oh, I think they're so stupid, all of them. MRS. ROBERTS. [With a faint smile]. Yes, M'm. ENID. Is Roberts out? MRS. ROBERTS. Yes, M'm. ENID. It is his doing, that they don't come to an agreement. Now isn't it, Annie? MRS. ROBERTS. [Softly, with her eyes on ENID, and moving the fingersof one hand continually on her breast. ] They do say that yourfather, M'm---- ENID. My father's getting an old man, and you know what old men are. MRS. ROBERTS. I am sorry, M'm. ENID. [More softly. ] I don't expect you to feel sorry, Annie. Iknow it's his fault as well as Roberts's. MRS. ROBERTS. I'm sorry for any one that gets old, M'm; it 'sdreadful to get old, and Mr. Anthony was such a fine old man, Ialways used to think. ENID. [Impulsively. ] He always liked you, don't you remember? Lookhere, Annie, what can I do? I do so want to know. You don't getwhat you ought to have. [Going to the fire, she takes the kettleoff, and looks for coals. ] And you're so naughty sending back thesoup and things. MRS. ROBERTS. [With a faint smile. ] Yes, M'm? ENID. [Resentfully. ] Why, you have n't even got coals? MRS. ROBERTS. If you please, M'm, to put the kettle on again;Roberts won't have long for his tea when he comes in. He's got tomeet the men at four. ENID. [Putting the kettle on. ] That means he'll lash them into afury again. Can't you stop his going, Annie? [MRS. ROBERTS smiles ironically. ] Have you tried? [A silence. ] Does he know how ill you are? MRS. ROBERTS. It's only my weak 'eard, M'm. ENID. You used to be so well when you were with us. MRS. ROBERTS. [Stiffening. ] Roberts is always good to me. ENID. But you ought to have everything you want, and you havenothing! MRS. ROBERTS. [Appealingly. ] They tell me I don't look like a dyin'woman? ENID. Of course you don't; if you could only have proper--- Will yousee my doctor if I send him to you? I'm sure he'd do you good. MRS. ROBERTS. [With faint questioning. ] Yes, M'm. ENID. Madge Thomas ought n't to come here; she only excites you. Asif I did n't know what suffering there is amongst the men! I do feelfor them dreadfully, but you know they have gone too far. MRS. ROBERTS. [Continually moving her fingers. ] They say there's noother way to get better wages, M'm. ENID. [Earnestly. ] But, Annie, that's why the Union won't helpthem. My husband's very sympathetic with the men, but he says theyare not underpaid. MRS. ROBERTS. No, M'm? ENID. They never think how the Company could go on if we paid thewages they want. MRS. ROBERTS. [With an effort. ] But the dividends having been sobig, M'm. ENID. [Takes aback. ] You all seem to think the shareholders arerich men, but they're not--most of them are really no better off thanworking men. [MRS. ROBERTS smiles. ] They have to keep up appearances. MRS. ROBERTS. Yes, M'm? ENID. You don't have to pay rates and taxes, and a hundred otherthings that they do. If the men did n't spend such a lot in drinkand betting they'd be quite well off! MRS. ROBERTS. They say, workin' so hard, they must have somepleasure. ENID. But surely not low pleasure like that. MRS. ROBERTS. [A little resentfully. ] Roberts never touches a drop;and he's never had a bet in his life. ENID. Oh! but he's not a com----I mean he's an engineer----a superior man. MRS. ROBERTS. Yes, M'm. Roberts says they've no chance of otherpleasures. ENID. [Musing. ] Of course, I know it's hard. MRS. ROBERTS. [With a spice of malice. ] And they say gentlefolk'sjust as bad. ENID. [With a smile. ] I go as far as most people, Annie, but youknow, yourself, that's nonsense. MRS. ROBERTS. [With painful effort. ] A lot 'o the men never go nearthe Public; but even they don't save but very little, and that goesif there's illness. ENID. But they've got their clubs, have n't they? MRS. ROBERTS. The clubs only give up to eighteen shillin's a week, M'm, and it's not much amongst a family. Roberts says workin' folkhave always lived from hand to mouth. Sixpence to-day is worth morethan a shillin' to-morrow, that's what they say. ENID. But that's the spirit of gambling. MRS. ROBERTS. [With a sort of excitement. ] Roberts says a workingman's life is all a gamble, from the time 'e 's born to the time 'edies. [ENID leans forward, interested. MRS. ROBERTS goes on with a growing excitement that culminates in the personal feeling of the last words. ] He says, M'm, that when a working man's baby is born, it's a toss-upfrom breath to breath whether it ever draws another, and so on all'is life; an' when he comes to be old, it's the workhouse or thegrave. He says that without a man is very near, and pinches andstints 'imself and 'is children to save, there can't be neithersurplus nor security. That's why he wouldn't have no children [shesinks back], not though I wanted them. ENID. Yes, yes, I know! MRS. ROBERTS. No you don't, M'm. You've got your children, andyou'll never need to trouble for them. ENID. [Gently. ] You oughtn't to be talking so much, Annie. [Then, in spite of herself. ] But Roberts was paid a lot of money, was n'the, for discovering that process? MRS. ROBERTS. [On the defensive. ] All Roberts's savin's have gone. He 's always looked forward to this strike. He says he's no right toa farthing when the others are suffering. 'T is n't so with all o'them! Some don't seem to care no more than that--so long as they gettheir own. ENID. I don't see how they can be expected to when they 'resuffering like this. [In a changed voice. ] But Roberts ought tothink of you! It's all terrible----! The kettle's boiling. Shall Imake the tea? [She takes the teapot and, seeing tea there, pourswater into it. ] Won't you have a cup? MRS. ROBERTS. No, thank you, M'm. [She is listening, as though forfootsteps. ] I'd--sooner you did n't see Roberts, M'm, he gets sowild. ENID. Oh! but I must, Annie; I'll be quite calm, I promise. MRS. ROBERTS. It's life an' death to him, M'm. ENID. [Very gently. ] I'll get him to talk to me outside, we won'texcite you. MRS. ROBERTS. [Faintly. ] No, M'm. [She gives a violent start. ROBERTS has come in, unseen. ] ROBERTS. [Removing his hat--with subtle mockery. ] Beg pardon forcoming in; you're engaged with a lady, I see. ENID. Can I speak to you, Mr. Roberts? ROBERTS. Whom have I the pleasure of addressing, Ma'am? ENID. But surely you know me! I 'm Mrs. Underwood. ROBERTS. [With a bow of malice. ] The daughter of our Chairman. ENID. [Earnestly. ] I've come on purpose to speak to you; will youcome outside a minute? [She looks at MRS. ROBERTS. ] ROBERTS. [Hanging up his hat. ] I have nothing to say, Ma'am. ENID. But I must speak to you, please. [She moves towards the door. ] ROBERTS. [With sudden venom. ] I have not the time to listen! MRS. ROBERTS. David! ENID. Mr. Roberts, please! ROBERTS. [Taking off his overcoat. ] I am sorry to disoblige a lady--Mr. Anthony's daughter. ENID. [Wavering, then with sudden decision. ] Mr. Roberts, I knowyou've another meeting of the men. [ROBERTS bows. ] I came to appeal to you. Please, please, try to come to somecompromise; give way a little, if it's only for your own sakes! ROBERTS. [Speaking to himself. ] The daughter of Mr. Anthony begs meto give way a little, if it's only for our own sakes! ENID. For everybody's sake; for your wife's sake. ROBERTS. For my wife's sake, for everybody's sake--for the sake ofMr. Anthony. ENID. Why are you so bitter against my father? He has never doneanything to you. ROBERTS. Has he not? ENID. He can't help his views, any more than you can help yours. ROBERTS. I really did n't know that I had a right to views! ENID. He's an old man, and you---- [Seeing his eyes fixed on her, she stops. ] ROBERTS. [Without raising his voice. ] If I saw Mr. Anthony going todie, and I could save him by lifting my hand, I would not lift thelittle finger of it. ENID. You--you----[She stops again, biting her lips. ] ROBERTS. I would not, and that's flat! ENID. [Coldly. ] You don't mean what you say, and you know it! ROBERTS. I mean every word of it. ENID. But why? ROBERTS. [With a flash. ] Mr. Anthony stands for tyranny! That'swhy! ENID. Nonsense! [MRS. ROBERTS makes a movement as if to rise, but sinks back in her chair. ] ENID. [With an impetuous movement. ] Annie! ROBERTS. Please not to touch my wife! ENID. [Recoiling with a sort of horror. ] I believe--you are mad. ROBERTS. The house of a madman then is not the fit place for a lady. ENID. I 'm not afraid of you. ROBERTS. [Bowing. ] I would not expect the daughter of Mr. Anthonyto be afraid. Mr. Anthony is not a coward like the rest of them. ENID. [Suddenly. ] I suppose you think it brave, then, to go on withthe struggle. ROBERTS. Does Mr. Anthony think it brave to fight against women andchildren? Mr. Anthony is a rich man, I believe; does he think itbrave to fight against those who have n't a penny? Does he think itbrave to set children crying with hunger, an' women shivering withcold? ENID. [Putting up her hand, as though warding off a blow. ] Myfather is acting on his principles, and you know it! ROBERTS. And so am I! ENID. You hate us; and you can't bear to be beaten! ROBERTS. Neither can Mr. Anthony, for all that he may say. ENID. At any rate you might have pity on your wife. [MRS. ROBERTS who has her hand pressed to her heart, takes it away, and tries to calm her breathing. ] ROBERTS. Madam, I have no more to say. [He takes up the loaf. There is a knock at the door, and UNDERWOOD comes in. He stands looking at them, ENID turns to him, then seems undecided. ] UNDERWOOD. Enid! ROBERTS. [Ironically. ] Ye were not needing to come for your wife, Mr. Underwood. We are not rowdies. UNDERWOOD. I know that, Roberts. I hope Mrs. Roberts is better. [ROBERTS turns away without answering. Come, Enid!] ENID. I make one more appeal to you, Mr. Roberts, for the sake ofyour wife. ROBERTS. [With polite malice. ] If I might advise ye, Ma'am--make itfor the sake of your husband and your father. [ENID, suppressing a retort, goes out. UNDERWOOD opens the door for her and follows. ROBERTS, going to the fire, holds out his hands to the dying glow. ] ROBERTS. How goes it, my girl? Feeling better, are you? [MRS. ROBERTS smiles faintly. He brings his overcoat and wraps it round her. ] [Looking at his watch. ] Ten minutes to four! [As though inspired. ]I've seen their faces, there's no fight in them, except for that oneold robber. MRS. ROBERTS. Won't you stop and eat, David? You've 'ad nothing allday! ROBERTS. [Putting his hand to his throat. ] Can't swallow till thoseold sharks are out o' the town: [He walks up and down. ] I shall havea bother with the men--there's no heart in them, the cowards. Blindas bats, they are--can't see a day before their noses. MRS. ROBERTS. It's the women, David. ROBERTS. Ah! So they say! They can remember the women when theirown bellies speak! The women never stop them from the drink; butfrom a little suffering to themselves in a sacred cause, the womenstop them fast enough. MRS. ROBERTS. But think o' the children, David. ROBERTS. Ah! If they will go breeding themselves for slaves, without a thought o' the future o' them they breed---- MRS. ROBERTS. [Gasping. ] That's enough, David; don't begin to talkof that--I won't--I can't---- ROBERTS. [Staring at her. ] Now, now, my girl! MRS. ROBERTS. [Breathlessly. ] No, no, David--I won't! ROBERTS. There, there! Come, come! That's right! [Bitterly. ] Notone penny will they put by for a day like this. Not they! Hand tomouth--Gad!--I know them! They've broke my heart. There was noholdin' them at the start, but now the pinch 'as come. MRS. ROBERTS. How can you expect it, David? They're not made ofiron. ROBERTS. Expect it? Wouldn't I expect what I would do meself?Wouldn't I starve an' rot rather than give in? What one man can do, another can. MRS. ROBERTS. And the women? ROBERTS. This is not women's work. MRS. ROBERTS. [With a flash of malice. ] No, the women may die forall you care. That's their work. ROBERTS. [Averting his eyes. ] Who talks of dying? No one will dietill we have beaten these---- [He meets her eyes again, and again turns his away. Excitedly. ] This is what I've been waiting for all these months. To get the oldrobbers down, and send them home again without a farthin's worth o'change. I 've seen their faces, I tell you, in the valley of theshadow of defeat. [He goes to the peg and takes down his hat. ] MRS. ROBERTS. [Following with her eyes-softly. ] Take your overcoat, David; it must be bitter cold. ROBERTS. [Coming up to her-his eyes are furtive. ] No, no! There, there, stay quiet and warm. I won't be long, my girl. MRS. ROBERTS. [With soft bitterness. ] You'd better take it. [She lifts the coat. But ROBERTS puts it back, and wraps it round her. He tries to meet her eyes, but cannot. MRS. ROBERTS stays huddled in the coat, her eyes, that follow him about, are half malicious, half yearning. He looks at his watch again, and turns to go. In the doorway he meets JAN THOMAS, a boy of ten in clothes too big for him, carrying a penny whistle. ] ROBERTS. Hallo, boy! [He goes. JAN stops within a yard of MRS. ROBERTS, and stares at her without a word. ] MRS. ROBERTS. Well, Jan! JAN. Father 's coming; sister Madge is coming. [He sits at the table, and fidgets with his whistle; he blows three vague notes; then imitates a cuckoo. ] [There is a tap on the door. Old THOMAS comes in. ] THOMAS. A very coot tay to you, Ma'am. It is petter that you are. MRS. ROBERTS. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. THOMAS. [Nervously. ] Roberts in? MRS. ROBERTS. Just gone on to the meeting, Mr. Thomas. THOMAS. [With relief, becoming talkative. ] This is feryunfortunate, look you! I came to tell him that we must make termswith London. It is a fery great pity he is gone to the meeting. Hewill be kicking against the pricks, I am thinking. MRS. ROBERTS. [Half rising. ] He'll never give in, Mr. Thomas. THOMAS. You must not be fretting, that is very pat for you. Lookyou, there iss hartly any mans for supporting him now, but theengineers and George Rous. [Solemnly. ] This strike is no longerGoing with Chapel, look you! I have listened carefully, an' I havetalked with her. [JAN blows. ] Sst! I don't care what th' others say, I say that Chapel means us tobe stopping the trouple, that is what I make of her; and it is myopinion that this is the fery best thing for all of us. If it wasn't my opinion, I ton't say but it is my opinion, look you. MRS. ROBERTS. [Trying to suppress her excitement. ] I don't knowwhat'll come to Roberts, if you give in. THOMAS. It iss no disgrace whateffer! All that a mortal man coultdo he hass tone. It iss against Human Nature he hass gone; ferynatural any man may do that; but Chapel has spoken and he must not goagainst her. [JAN imitates the cuckoo. ] Ton't make that squeaking! [Going to the door. ] Here iss mydaughter come to sit with you. A fery goot day, Ma'am--no fretting--rememper! [MADGE comes in and stands at the open door, watching the street. ] MADGE. You'll be late, Father; they're beginning. [She catches himby the sleeve. ] For the love of God, stand up to him, Father--thistime! THOMAS. [Detaching his sleeve with dignity. ] Leave me to do what'sproper, girl! [He goes out. MADGE, in the centre of the open doorway, slowly moves in, as though before the approach of some one. ] ROUS. [Appearing in the doorway. ] Madge! [MADGE stands with her back to MRS. ROBERTS, staring at him with her head up and her hands behind her. ] ROUS. [Who has a fierce distracted look. ] Madge! I'm going to themeeting. [MADGE, without moving, smiles contemptuously. ] D' ye hear me? [They speak in quick low voices. ] MADGE. I hear! Go, and kill your own mother, if you must. [ROUS seizes her by both her arms. She stands rigid, with her headbent back. He releases her, and he too stands motionless. ] ROUS. I swore to stand by Roberts. I swore that! Ye want me to goback on what I've sworn. MADGE. [With slow soft mockery. ] You are a pretty lover! ROUS. Madge! MADGE. [Smiling. ] I've heard that lovers do what their girls askthem-- [JAN sounds the cuckoo's notes] --but that's not true, it seems! ROUS. You'd make a blackleg of me! MADGE. [With her eyes half-closed. ] Do it for me! ROUS. [Dashing his hand across his brow. ] Damn! I can't! MADGE. [Swiftly. ] Do it for me! ROUS. [Through his teeth. ] Don't play the wanton with me! MADGE. [With a movement of her hand towards JAN--quick and low. ]I would be that for the children's sake! ROUS. [In a fierce whisper. ] Madge! Oh, Madge! MADGE. [With soft mockery. ] But you can't break your word for me! ROUS. [With a choke. ] Then, Begod, I can! [He turns and rushes off. ] [MADGE Stands, with a faint smile on her face, looking after him. She turns to MRS. ROBERTS. ] MADGE. I have done for Roberts! MRS. ROBERTS. [Scornfully. ] Done for my man, with that----![She sinks back. ] MADGE. [Running to her, and feeling her hands. ] You're as cold as astone! You want a drop of brandy. Jan, run to the "Lion"; say, Isent you for Mrs. Roberts. MRS. ROBERTS. [With a feeble movement. ] I'll just sit quiet, Madge. Give Jan--his--tea. MADGE. [Giving JAN a slice of bread. ] There, ye little rascal. Hold your piping. [Going to the fire, she kneels. ] It's going out. MRS. ROBERTS. [With a faint smile. ] 'T is all the same! [JAN begins to blow his whistle. ] MADGE. Tsht! Tsht!--you [JAN Stops. ] MRS. ROBERTS. [Smiling. ] Let 'im play, Madge. MADGE. [On her knees at the fire, listening. ] Waiting an' waiting. I've no patience with it; waiting an' waiting--that's what a womanhas to do! Can you hear them at it--I can! [JAN begins again to play his whistle; MADGE gets up; half tenderly she ruffles his hair; then, sitting, leans her elbows on the table, and her chin on her hands. Behind her, on MRS. ROBERTS'S face the smile has changed to horrified surprise. She makes a sudden movement, sitting forward, pressing her hands against her breast. Then slowly she sinks' back; slowly her face loses the look of pain, the smile returns. She fixes her eyes again on JAN, and moves her lips and finger to the tune. ] The curtain falls. SCENE II It is past four. In a grey, failing light, an open muddy space is crowded with workmen. Beyond, divided from it by a barbed-wire fence, is the raised towing-path of a canal, on which is moored a barge. In the distance are marshes and snow-covered hills. The "Works" high wall runs from the canal across the open space, and ivy the angle of this wall is a rude platform of barrels and boards. On it, HARNESS is standing. ROBERTS, a little apart from the crowd, leans his back against the wall. On the raised towing-path two bargemen lounge and smoke indifferently. HARNESS. [Holding out his hand. ] Well, I've spoken to you straight. If I speak till to-morrow I can't say more. JAGO. [A dark, sallow, Spanish-looking man with a short, thinbeard. ] Mister, want to ask you! Can they get blacklegs? BULGIN. [Menacing. ] Let 'em try. [There are savage murmurs from the crowd. ] BROWN. [A round-faced man. ] Where could they get 'em then? EVANS. [A small, restless, harassed man, with a fighting face. ]There's always blacklegs; it's the nature of 'em. There's always menthat'll save their own skins. [Another savage murmur. There is a movement, and old THOMAS, joining the crowd, takes his stand in front. ] HARNESS. [Holding up his hand. ] They can't get them. But thatwon't help you. Now men, be reasonable. Your demands would havebrought on us the burden of a dozen strikes at a time when we werenot prepared for them. The Unions live by justice, not to one, butall. Any fair man will tell you--you were ill-advised! I don't sayyou go too far for that which you're entitled to, but you're goingtoo far for the moment; you've dug a pit for yourselves. Are you tostay there, or are you to climb out? Come! LEWIS. [A clean-cut Welshman with a dark moustache. ] You've hit it, Mister! Which is it to be? [Another movement in the crowd, and ROUS, coming quickly, takes his stand next THOMAS. ] HARNESS. Cut your demands to the right pattern, and we 'll see youthrough; refuse, and don't expect me to waste my time coming downhere again. I 'm not the sort that speaks at random, as you ought toknow by this time. If you're the sound men I take you for--no matterwho advises you against it--[he fixes his eyes on ROBERTS] you 'llmake up your minds to come in, and trust to us to get your terms. Which is it to be? Hands together, and victory--or--the starvationyou've got now? [A prolonged murmur from the crowd. ] JAGO. [Sullenly. ] Talk about what you know. HARNESS. [Lifting his voice above the murmur. ] Know? [With coldpassion. ] All that you've been through, my friend, I 've beenthrough--I was through it when I was no bigger than [pointing to ayouth] that shaver there; the Unions then were n't what they arenow. What's made them strong? It's hands together that 's made themstrong. I 've been through it all, I tell you, the brand's on mysoul yet. I know what you 've suffered--there's nothing you can tellme that I don't know; but the whole is greater than the part, and youare only the part. Stand by us, and we will stand by you. [Quartering them with his eyes, he waits. The murmuring swells; the men form little groups. GREEN, BULGIN, and LEWIS talk together. ] LEWIS. Speaks very sensible, the Union chap. GREEN. [Quietly. ] Ah! if I 'd a been listened to, you'd 'ave 'eardsense these two months past. [The bargemen are seen laughing. ] LEWIS. [Pointing. ] Look at those two blanks over the fence there! BULGIN. [With gloomy violence. ] They'd best stop their cackle, or I'll break their jaws. JAGO. [Suddenly. ] You say the furnace men's paid enough? HARNESS. I did not say they were paid enough; I said they were paidas much as the furnace men in similar works elsewhere. EVANS. That's a lie! [Hubbub. ] What about Harper's? HARNESS. [With cold irony. ] You may look at home for lies, my man. Harper's shifts are longer, the pay works out the same. HENRY ROUS. [A dark edition of his brother George. ] Will ye supportus in double pay overtime Saturdays? HARNESS. Yes, we will. JAGO. What have ye done with our subscriptions? HARNESS. [Coldly. ] I have told you what we will do with them. EVANS. Ah! will, it's always will! Ye'd have our mates desert us. [Hubbub. ] BULGIN. [Shouting. ] Hold your row! [EVANS looks round angrily. ] HARNESS. [Lifting his voice. ] Those who know their right hands fromtheir lefts know that the Unions are neither thieves nor traitors. I 've said my say. Figure it out, my lads; when you want me you knowwhere I shall be. [He jumps down, the crowd gives way, he passes through them, and goes away. A BARGEMAN looks after him jerking his pipe with a derisive gesture. The men close up in groups, and many looks are cast at ROBERTS, who stands alone against the wall. ] EVANS. He wants ye to turn blacklegs, that's what he wants. Hewants ye to go back on us. Sooner than turn blackleg--I 'd starve, Iwould. BULGIN. Who's talkin' o' blacklegs--mind what you're saying, willyou? BLACKSMITH. [A youth with yellow hair and huge arms. ] What aboutthe women? EVANS. They can stand what we can stand, I suppose, can't they? BLACKSMITH. Ye've no wife? EVANS. An' don't want one! THOMAS. [Raising his voice. ] Aye! Give us the power to come toterms with London, lads. DAVIES. [A dark, slow-fly, gloomy man. ] Go up the platform, if yougot anything to say, go up an' say it. [There are cries of "Thomas!" He is pushed towards the platform; he ascends it with difficulty, and bares his head, waiting for silence. A hush. ] RED-HAIRED YOUTH. [suddenly. ] Coot old Thomas! [A hoarse laugh; the bargemen exchange remarks; a hush again, and THOMAS begins speaking. ] THOMAS. We are all in the tepth together, and it iss Nature that hasput us there. HENRY ROUS. It's London put us there! EVANS. It's the Union. THOMAS. It iss not Lonton; nor it iss not the Union--it iss Nature. It iss no disgrace whateffer to a potty to give in to Nature. Forthis Nature iss a fery pig thing; it is pigger than what a man is. There iss more years to my hett than to the hett of any one here. It is fery pat, look you, this Going against Nature. It is pat tomake other potties suffer, when there is nothing to pe cot py it. [A laugh. THOMAS angrily goes on. ] What are ye laughing at? It is pat, I say! We are fighting for aprinciple; there is no potty that shall say I am not a peliever inprinciple. Putt when Nature says "No further, " then it is no cootsnapping your fingers in her face. [A laugh from ROBERTS, and murmurs of approval. ] This Nature must pe humort. It is a man's pisiness to pe pure, honest, just, and merciful. That's what Chapel tells you. [ToROBERTS, angrily. ] And, look you, David Roberts, Chapel tells you yecan do that without Going against Nature. JAGO. What about the Union? THOMAS. I ton't trust the Union; they haf treated us like tirt. "Do what we tell you, " said they. I haf peen captain of thefurnace-men twenty years, and I say to the Union--[excitedly]--"Can youtell me then, as well as I can tell you, what iss the right wages forthe work that these men do?" For fife and twenty years I haf paid mymoneys to the Union and--[with great excitement]--for nothings! Whatiss that but roguery, for all that this Mr. Harness says! EVANS. Hear, hear. HENRY ROUS. Get on with you! Cut on with it then! THOMAS. Look you, if a man toes not trust me, am I going to trusthim? JAGO. That's right. THOMAS. Let them alone for rogues, and act for ourselves. [Murmurs. ] BLACKSMITH. That's what we been doin', haven't we? THOMAS. [With increased excitement. ] I wass brought up to do formeself. I wass brought up to go without a thing, if I hat not moneysto puy it. There iss too much, look you, of doing things with otherpeople's moneys. We haf fought fair, and if we haf peen beaten, itiss no fault of ours. Gif us the power to make terms with London forourself; if we ton't succeed, I say it iss petter to take our peatinglike men, than to tie like togs, or hang on to others' coat-tails tomake them do our pisiness for us! EVANS. [Muttering. ] Who wants to? THOMAS. [Craning. ] What's that? If I stand up to a potty, and heknocks me town, I am not to go hollering to other potties to help me;I am to stand up again; and if he knocks me town properly, I am tostay there, is n't that right? [Laughter. ] JAGO. No Union! HENRY ROUS. Union! [Murmurs. ] [Others take up the shout. ] EVANS. Blacklegs! [BULGIN and the BLACKSMITH shake their fists at EVANS. ] THOMAS. [With a gesture. ] I am an olt man, look you. [A sudden silence, then murmurs again. ] LEWIS. Olt fool, with his "No Union!" BULGIN. Them furnace chaps! For twopence I 'd smash the faces o'the lot of them. GREEN. If I'd a been listened to at the first! THOMAS. [Wiping his brow. ] I'm comin' now to what I was going tosay---- DAVIES. [Muttering. ] An' time too! THOMAS. [Solemnly. ] Chapel says: Ton't carry on this strife! Putan end to it! JAGO. That's a lie! Chapel says go on! THOMAS. [Scornfully. ] Inteet! I haf ears to my head. RED-HAIRED YOUTH. Ah! long ones! [A laugh. ] JAGO. Your ears have misbeled you then. THOMAS. [Excitedly. ] Ye cannot be right if I am, ye cannot haf itboth ways. RED-HAIRED YOUTH. Chapel can though! ["The Shaver" laughs; there are murmurs from the crowd. ] THOMAS. [Fixing his eyes on "The Shaver. "] Ah! ye 're Going theroat to tamnation. An' so I say to all of you. If ye co againstChapel I will not pe with you, nor will any other Got-fearing man. [He steps down from the platform. JAGO makes his way towards it. There are cries of "Don't let 'im go up!"] JAGO. Don't let him go up? That's free speech, that is. [He goesup. ] I ain't got much to say to you. Look at the matter plain; ye've come the road this far, and now you want to chuck the journey. We've all been in one boat; and now you want to pull in two. Weengineers have stood by you; ye 're ready now, are ye, to give us thego-by? If we'd aknown that before, we'd not a-started out with youso early one bright morning! That's all I 've got to say. Old manThomas a'n't got his Bible lesson right. If you give up to London, or to Harness, now, it's givin' us the chuck--to save your skins--youwon't get over that, my boys; it's a dirty thing to do. [He gets down; during his little speech, which is ironically spoken, there is a restless discomfort in the crowd. ROUS, stepping forward, jumps on the platform. He has an air of fierce distraction. Sullen murmurs of disapproval from the crowd. ] ROUS. [Speaking with great excitement. ] I'm no blanky orator, mates, but wot I say is drove from me. What I say is yuman nature. Can a man set an' see 'is mother starve? Can 'e now? ROBERTS. [Starting forward. ] Rous! ROUS. [Staring at him fiercely. ] Sim 'Arness said fair! I'vechanged my mind! ROBERTS. Ah! Turned your coat you mean! [The crowd manifests a great surprise. ] LEWIS. [Apostrophising Rous. ] Hallo! What's turned him round? ROUS. [Speaking with intense excitement. ] 'E said fair. "Stand byus, " 'e said, "and we'll stand by you. " That's where we've beenmakin' our mistake this long time past; and who's to blame fort? [Hepoints at ROBERTS] That man there! "No, " 'e said, "fight therobbers, " 'e said, "squeeze the breath out o' them!" But it's not thebreath out o' them that's being squeezed; it's the breath out of usand ours, and that's the book of truth. I'm no orator, mates, it'sthe flesh and blood in me that's speakin', it's the heart o' me. [With a menacing, yet half-ashamed movement towards ROBERTS. ] He'llspeak to you again, mark my words, but don't ye listen. [The crowdgroans. ] It's hell fire that's on that man's tongue. [ROBERTS isseen laughing. ] Sim 'Arness is right. What are we without theUnion--handful o' parched leaves--a puff o' smoke. I'm no orator, but I say: Chuck it up! Chuck it up! Sooner than go on starving thewomen and the children. [The murmurs of acquiescence almost drown the murmurs of dissent. ] EVANS. What's turned you to blacklegging? ROUS. [With a furious look. ] Sim 'Arness knows what he's talkingabout. Give us power to come to terms with London; I'm no orator, but I say--have done wi' this black misery! [He gives his muter a twist, jerks his head back, and jumps off the platform. The crowd applauds and surges forward. Amid cries of "That's enough!" "Up Union!" "Up Harness!" ROBERTS quietly ascends the platform. There is a moment of silence. ] BLACKSMITH. We don't want to hear you. Shut it! HENRY Rous. Get down! [Amid such cries they surge towards the platform. ] EVANS. [Fiercely. ] Let 'im speak! Roberts! Roberts! BULGIN. [Muttering. ] He'd better look out that I don't crack hisskull. [ROBERTS faces the crowd, probing them with his eyes till they gradually become silent. He begins speaking. One of the bargemen rises and stands. ] ROBERTS. You don't want to hear me, then? You'll listen to Rous andto that old man, but not to me. You'll listen to Sim Harness of theUnion that's treated you so fair; maybe you'll listen to those menfrom London? Ah! You groan! What for? You love their feet on yournecks, don't you? [Then as BULGIN elbows his way towards theplatform, with calm bathos. ] You'd like to break my jaw, JohnBulgin. Let me speak, then do your smashing, if it gives youpleasure. [BULGIN Stands motionless and sullen. ] Am I a liar, acoward, a traitor? If only I were, ye'd listen to me, I'm sure. [The murmurings cease, and there is now dead silence. ] Is there aman of you here that has less to gain by striking? Is there a man ofyou that had more to lose? Is there a man of you that has given upeight hundred pounds since this trouble here began? Come now, isthere? How much has Thomas given up--ten pounds or five, or what?You listened to him, and what had he to say? "None can pretend, " hesaid, "that I'm not a believer in principle--[with biting irony]--butwhen Nature says: 'No further, 't es going agenst Nature. '" I tellyou if a man cannot say to Nature: "Budge me from this if ye can!"--[with a sort of exaltation] his principles are but his belly. "Oh, but, " Thomas says, "a man can be pure and honest, just and merciful, and take off his hat to Nature!" I tell you Nature's neither purenor honest, just nor merciful. You chaps that live over the hill, an' go home dead beat in the dark on a snowy night--don't ye fightyour way every inch of it? Do ye go lyin' down an' trustin' to thetender mercies of this merciful Nature? Try it and you'll soon knowwith what ye've got to deal. 'T es only by that--[he strikes a blowwith his clenched fist]--in Nature's face that a man can be a man. "Give in, " says Thomas, "go down on your knees; throw up your foolishfight, an' perhaps, " he said, "perhaps your enemy will chuck you downa crust. " JAGO. Never! EVANS. Curse them! THOMAS. I nefer said that. ROBERTS. [Bitingly. ] If ye did not say it, man, ye meant it. An' what did ye say about Chapel? "Chapel's against it, " ye said. "She 's against it!" Well, if Chapel and Nature go hand in hand, it's the first I've ever heard of it. That young man there--[pointing to ROUS]--said I 'ad 'ell fire on my tongue. If I had Iwould use it all to scorch and wither this talking of surrender. Surrendering 's the work of cowards and traitors. HENRY ROUS. [As GEORGE ROUS moves forward. ] Go for him, George--don't stand his lip! ROBERTS. [Flinging out his finger. ] Stop there, George Rous, it'sno time this to settle personal matters. [ROUS stops. ] But therewas one other spoke to you--Mr. Simon Harness. We have not much tothank Mr. Harness and the Union for. They said to us "Desert yourmates, or we'll desert you. " An' they did desert us. EVANS. They did. ROBERTS. Mr. Simon Harness is a clever man, but he has come toolate. [With intense conviction. ] For all that Mr. Simon Harnesssays, for all that Thomas, Rous, for all that any man present herecan say--We've won the fight! [The crowd sags nearer, looking eagerly up. ] [With withering scorn. ] You've felt the pinch o't in your bellies. You've forgotten what that fight 'as been; many times I have toldyou; I will tell you now this once again. The fight o' the country'sbody and blood against a blood-sucker. The fight of those that spendthemselves with every blow they strike and every breath they draw, against a thing that fattens on them, and grows and grows by the lawof merciful Nature. That thing is Capital! A thing that buys thesweat o' men's brows, and the tortures o' their brains, at its ownprice. Don't I know that? Wasn't the work o' my brains bought forseven hundred pounds, and has n't one hundred thousand pounds beengained them by that seven hundred without the stirring of a finger. It is a thing that will take as much and give you as little as itcan. That's Capital! A thing that will say--"I'm very sorry foryou, poor fellows--you have a cruel time of it, I know, " but will notgive one sixpence of its dividends to help you have a better time. That's Capital! Tell me, for all their talk, is there one of themthat will consent to another penny on the Income Tax to help thepoor? That's Capital! A white-faced, stony-hearted monster! Yehave got it on its knees; are ye to give up at the last minute tosave your miserable bodies pain? When I went this morning to thoseold men from London, I looked into their very 'earts. One of themwas sitting there--Mr. Scantlebury, a mass of flesh nourished on us:sittin' there for all the world like the shareholders in thisCompany, that sit not moving tongue nor finger, takin' dividends agreat dumb ox that can only be roused when its food is threatened. I looked into his eyes and I saw he was afraid--afraid for himselfand his dividends; afraid for his fees, afraid of the veryshareholders he stands for; and all but one of them's afraid--likechildren that get into a wood at night, and start at every rustle ofthe leaves. I ask you, men--[he pauses, holding out his hand tillthere is utter silence]--give me a free hand to tell them: "Go youback to London. The men have nothing for you!" [A murmuring. ] Giveme that, an' I swear to you, within a week you shall have from Londonall you want. EVANS, JAGO, and OTHERS. A free hand! Give him a free hand! Bravo--bravo! ROBERTS. 'T is not for this little moment of time we're fighting[the murmuring dies], not for ourselves, our own little bodies, andtheir wants, 't is for all those that come after throughout all time. [With intense sadness. ] Oh! men--for the love o' them, don't rollup another stone upon their heads, don't help to blacken the sky, an'let the bitter sea in over them. They're welcome to the worst thatcan happen to me, to the worst that can happen to us all, are n'tthey--are n't they? If we can shake [passionately] that white-facedmonster with the bloody lips, that has sucked the life out ofourselves, our wives, and children, since the world began. [Droppingthe note of passion but with the utmost weight and intensity. ] If wehave not the hearts of men to stand against it breast to breast, andeye to eye, and force it backward till it cry for mercy, it will goon sucking life; and we shall stay forever what we are [in almost awhisper], less than the very dogs. [An utter stillness, and ROBERTS stands rocking his body slightly, with his eyes burning the faces of the crowd. ] EVANS and JAGO. [Suddenly. ] Roberts! [The shout is taken up. ] [There is a slight movement in the crowd, and MADGE passing below the towing-path, stops by the platform, looking up at ROBERTS. A sudden doubting silence. ] ROBERTS. "Nature, " says that old man, "give in to Nature. " I tellyou, strike your blow in Nature's face--an' let it do its worst! [He catches sight of MADGE, his brows contract, he looks away. ] MADGE. [In a low voice-close to the platform. ] Your wife's dying! [ROBERTS glares at her as if torn from some pinnacle of exaltation. ] ROBERTS. [Trying to stammer on. ] I say to you--answer them--answerthem---- [He is drowned by the murmur in the crowd. ] THOMAS. [Stepping forward. ] Ton't you hear her, then? ROBERTS. What is it? [A dead silence. ] THOMAS. Your wife, man! [ROBERTS hesitates, then with a gesture, he leaps down, and goes away below the towing-path, the men making way for him. The standing bargeman opens and prepares to light a lantern. Daylight is fast failing. ] MADGE. He need n't have hurried! Annie Roberts is dead. [Then inthe silence, passionately. ] You pack of blinded hounds! How manymore women are you going to let to die? [The crowd shrinks back from her, and breaks up in groups, with a confused, uneasy movement. MADGE goes quickly away below the towing-path. There is a hush as they look after her. ] LEWIS. There's a spitfire, for ye! BULGIN. [Growling. ] I'll smash 'er jaw. GREEN. If I'd a-been listened to, that poor woman---- THOMAS. It's a judgment on him for going against Chapel. I tolt himhow 't would be! EVANS. All the more reason for sticking by 'im. [A cheer. ] Are yougoin' to desert him now 'e 's down? Are you going to chuck him over, now 'e 's lost 'is wife? [The crowd is murmuring and cheering all at once. ] ROUS. [Stepping in front of platform. ] Lost his wife! Aye! Can'tye see? Look at home, look at your own wives! What's to save them?Ye'll have the same in all your houses before long! LEWIS. Aye, aye! HENRY ROUS. Right! George, right! [There are murmurs of assent. ] ROUS. It's not us that's blind, it's Roberts. How long will ye putup with 'im! HENRY, ROUS, BULGIN, DAVIES. Give 'im the chuck! [The cry is taken up. ] EVANS. [Fiercely. ] Kick a man that's down? Down? HENRY ROUS. Stop his jaw there! [EVANS throws up his arm at a threat from BULGIN. The bargeman, who has lighted the lantern, holds it high above his head. ] ROUS. [Springing on to the platform. ] What brought him down then, but 'is own black obstinacy? Are ye goin' to follow a man that can'tsee better than that where he's goin'? EVANS. He's lost 'is wife. ROUS. An' who's fault's that but his own. 'Ave done with 'im, Isay, before he's killed your own wives and mothers. DAVIES. Down 'im! HENRY ROUS. He's finished! BROWN. We've had enough of 'im! BLACKSMITH. Too much! [The crowd takes up these cries, excepting only EVANS, JAGO, and GREEN, who is seen to argue mildly with the BLACKSMITH. ] ROUS. [Above the hubbub. ] We'll make terms with the Union, lads. [Cheers. ] EVANS. [Fiercely. ] Ye blacklegs! BULGIN. [Savagely-squaring up to him. ] Who are ye callin'blacklegs, Rat? [EVANS throws up his fists, parries the blow, and returns it. They fight. The bargemen are seen holding up the lantern and enjoying the sight. Old THOMAS steps forward and holds out his hands. ] THOMAS. Shame on your strife! [The BLACKSMITH, BROWN, LEWIS, and the RED-HAIRED YOUTH pull EVANS and BULGIN apart. The stage is almost dark. ] The curtain falls. ACT III It is five o'clock. In the UNDERWOODS' drawing-room, which is artistically furnished, ENID is sitting on the sofa working at a baby's frock. EDGAR, by a little spindle-legged table in the centre of the room, is fingering a china-box. His eyes are fixed on the double-doors that lead into the dining-room. EDGAR. [Putting down the china-box, and glancing at his watch. ]Just on five, they're all in there waiting, except Frank. Where'she? ENID. He's had to go down to Gasgoyne's about a contract. Will youwant him? EDGAR. He can't help us. This is a director's job. [Motioningtowards a single door half hidden by a curtain. ] Father in his room? ENID. Yes. EDGAR. I wish he'd stay there, Enid. [ENID looks up at him. This is a beastly business, old girl?] [He takes up the little box again and turns it over and over. ] ENID. I went to the Roberts's this afternoon, Ted. EDGAR. That was n't very wise. ENID. He's simply killing his wife. EDGAR. We are you mean. ENID. [Suddenly. ] Roberts ought to give way! EDGAR. There's a lot to be said on the men's side. ENID. I don't feel half so sympathetic with them as I did before Iwent. They just set up class feeling against you. Poor Annie waslooking dread fully bad--fire going out, and nothing fit for her toeat. [EDGAR walks to and fro. ] But she would stand up for Roberts. When you see all thiswretchedness going on and feel you can do nothing, you have to shutyour eyes to the whole thing. EDGAR. If you can. ENID. When I went I was all on their side, but as soon as I gotthere I began to feel quite different at once. People talk aboutsympathy with the working classes, they don't know what it means totry and put it into practice. It seems hopeless. EDGAR. Ah! well. ENID. It's dreadful going on with the men in this state. I do hopethe Dad will make concessions. EDGAR. He won't. [Gloomily. ] It's a sort of religion with him. Curse it! I know what's coming! He'll be voted down. ENID. They would n't dare! EDGAR. They will--they're in a funk. ENID. [Indignantly. ] He'd never stand it! EDGAR. [With a shrug. ] My dear girl, if you're beaten in a vote, you've got to stand it. ENID. Oh! [She gets up in alarm. ] But would he resign? EDGAR. Of course! It goes to the roots of his beliefs. ENID. But he's so wrapped up in this company, Ted! There'd benothing left for him! It'd be dreadful! [EDGAR shrugs his shoulders. ] Oh, Ted, he's so old now! You must n't let them! EDGAR. [Hiding his feelings in an outburst. ] My sympathies in thisstrike are all on the side of the men. ENID. He's been Chairman for more than thirty years! He made thewhole thing! And think of the bad times they've had; it's alwaysbeen he who pulled them through. Oh, Ted, you must! EDGAR. What is it you want? You said just now you hoped he'd makeconcessions. Now you want me to back him in not making them. Thisis n't a game, Enid! ENID. [Hotly. ] It is n't a game to me that the Dad's in danger oflosing all he cares about in life. If he won't give way, and he'sbeaten, it'll simply break him down! EDGAR. Did n't you say it was dreadful going on with the men in thisstate? ENID. But can't you see, Ted, Father'll never get over it! You muststop them somehow. The others are afraid of him. If you back himup---- EDGAR. [Putting his hand to his head. ] Against my convictions--against yours! The moment it begins to pinch one personally---- ENID. It is n't personal, it's the Dad! EDGAR. Your family or yourself, and over goes the show! ENID. [Resentfully. ] If you don't take it seriously, I do. EDGAR. I am as fond of him as you are; that's nothing to do with it. ENID. We can't tell about the men; it's all guess-work. But we knowthe Dad might have a stroke any day. D' you mean to say that heisn't more to you than---- EDGAR. Of course he is. ENID. I don't understand you then. EDGAR. H'm! ENID. If it were for oneself it would be different, but for our ownFather! You don't seem to realise. EDGAR. I realise perfectly. ENID. It's your first duty to save him. EDGAR. I wonder. ENID. [Imploring. ] Oh, Ted? It's the only interest he's got left;it'll be like a death-blow to him! EDGAR. [Restraining his emotion. ] I know. ENID. Promise! EDGAR. I'll do what I can. [He turns to the double-doors. ] [The curtained door is opened, and ANTHONY appears. EDGAR opens the double-doors, and passes through. ] [SCANTLEBURY'S voice is faintly heard: "Past five; we shall never get through--have to eat another dinner at that hotel!" The doors are shut. ANTHONY walks forward. ] ANTHONY. You've been seeing Roberts, I hear. ENID. Yes. ANTHONY. Do you know what trying to bridge such a gulf as this islike? [ENID puts her work on the little table, and faces him. ] Filling a sieve with sand! ENID. Don't! ANTHONY. You think with your gloved hands you can cure the troubleof the century. [He passes on. ] ENID. Father! [ANTHONY Stops at the double doors. ] I'm only thinking of you! ANTHONY. [More softly. ] I can take care of myself, my dear. ENID. Have you thought what'll happen if you're beaten--[she points]--in there? ANTHONY. I don't mean to be. ENID. Oh! Father, don't give them a chance. You're not well; needyou go to the meeting at all? ANTHONY. [With a grim smile. ] Cut and run? ENID. But they'll out-vote you! ANTHONY. [Putting his hand on the doors. ] We shall see! ENID. I beg you, Dad! Won't you? [ANTHONY looks at her softly. ] [ANTHONY shakes his head. He opens the doors. A buzz of voices comes in. ] SCANTLEBURY. Can one get dinner on that 6. 30 train up? TENCH. No, Sir, I believe not, sir. WILDER. Well, I shall speak out; I've had enough of this. EDGAR. [Sharply. ] What? [It ceases instantly. ANTHONY passes through, closing the doors behind him. ENID springs to them with a gesture of dismay. She puts her hand on the knob, and begins turning it; then goes to the fireplace, and taps her foot on the fender. Suddenly she rings the bell. FROST comes in by the door that leads into the hall. ] FROST. Yes, M'm? ENID. When the men come, Frost, please show them in here; thehall 's cold. FROST. I could put them in the pantry, M'm. ENID. No. I don't want to--to offend them; they're so touchy. FROST. Yes, M'm. [Pause. ] Excuse me, Mr. Anthony's 'ad nothing toeat all day. ENID. I know Frost. FROST. Nothin' but two whiskies and sodas, M'm. ENID. Oh! you oughtn't to have let him have those. FROST. [Gravely. ] Mr. Anthony is a little difficult, M'm. It's notas if he were a younger man, an' knew what was good for 'im; he willhave his own way. ENID. I suppose we all want that. FROST. Yes, M'm. [Quietly. ] Excuse me speakin' about the strike. I'm sure if the other gentlemen were to give up to Mr. Anthony, andquietly let the men 'ave what they want, afterwards, that'd be thebest way. I find that very useful with him at times, M'm. [ENID shakes hey head. ] If he's crossed, it makes him violent [with an air of discovery], and I've noticed in my own case, when I'm violent I'm always sorryfor it afterwards. ENID. [With a smile. ] Are you ever violent, Frost? FROST. Yes, M'm; oh! sometimes very violent. ENID. I've never seen you. FROST. [Impersonally. ] No, M'm; that is so. [ENID fidgets towards the back of the door. ] [With feeling. ] Bein' with Mr. Anthony, as you know, M'm, ever sinceI was fifteen, it worries me to see him crossed like this at his age. I've taken the liberty to speak to Mr. Wanklin [dropping his voice]--seems to be the most sensible of the gentlemen--but 'e said to me:"That's all very well, Frost, but this strike's a very seriousthing, " 'e said. "Serious for all parties, no doubt, " I said, "butyumour 'im, sir, " I said, "yumour 'im. It's like this, if a mancomes to a stone wall, 'e does n't drive 'is 'ead against it, 'e getsover it. " "Yes, " 'e said, "you'd better tell your master that. "[FROST looks at his nails. ] That's where it is, M'm. I said to Mr. Anthony this morning: "Is it worth it, sir?" "Damn it, " he said tome, "Frost! Mind your own business, or take a month's notice!" Begpardon, M'm, for using such a word. ENID. [Moving to the double-doors, and listening. ] Do you know thatman Roberts, Frost? FROST. Yes, M'm; that's to say, not to speak to. But to look at 'imyou can tell what he's like. ENID. [Stopping. ] Yes? FROST. He's not one of these 'ere ordinary 'armless Socialists. 'E's violent; got a fire inside 'im. What I call "personal. " A manmay 'ave what opinions 'e likes, so long as 'e 's not personal; when'e 's that 'e 's not safe. ENID. I think that's what my father feels about Roberts. FROST. No doubt, M'm, Mr. Anthony has a feeling against him. [ENID glances at him sharply, but finding him in perfect earnest, stands biting her lips, and looking at the double-doors. ] It 's, a regular right down struggle between the two. I've nopatience with this Roberts, from what I 'ear he's just an ordinaryworkin' man like the rest of 'em. If he did invent a thing he's noworse off than 'undreds of others. My brother invented a new kind o'dumb-waiter--nobody gave him anything for it, an' there it is, bein'used all over the place. [ENID moves closer to the double-doors. ] There's a kind o' man that never forgives the world, because 'ewasn't born a gentleman. What I say is--no man that's a gentlemanlooks down on another because 'e 'appens to be a class or two above'im, no more than if 'e 'appens to be a class or two below. ENID. [With slight impatience. ] Yes, I know, Frost, of course. Will you please go in and ask if they'll have some tea; say I sentyou. FROST. Yes, M'm. [He opens the doors gently and goes in. There is a momentary sound of earnest, gather angry talk. ] WILDER. I don't agree with you. WANKLIN. We've had this over a dozen times. EDGAR. [Impatiently. ] Well, what's the proposition? SCANTLEBURY. Yes, what does your father say? Tea? Not for me, notfor me! WANKLIN. What I understand the Chairman to say is this---- [FROST re-enters closing the door behind him. ] ENID. [Moving from the door. ] Won't they have any tea, Frost? [She goes to the little table, and remains motionless, looking at the baby's frock. ] [A parlourmaid enters from the hall. ] PARLOURMAID. A Miss Thomas, M'm ENID. [Raising her head. ] Thomas? What Miss Thomas--d' youmean a----? PARLOURMAID. Yes, M'm. ENID. [Blankly. ] Oh! Where is she? PARLOURMAID. In the porch. ENID. I don't want----[She hesitates. ] FROST. Shall I dispose of her, M'm? ENID. I 'll come out. No, show her in here, Ellen. [The PARLOUR MAID and FROST go out. ENID pursing her lips, sits at the little table, taking up the baby's frock. The PARLOURMAID ushers in MADGE THOMAS and goes out; MADGE stands by the door. ] ENID. Come in. What is it. What have you come for, please? MADGE. Brought a message from Mrs. Roberts. ENID. A message? Yes. MADGE. She asks you to look after her mother. ENID. I don't understand. MADGE. [Sullenly. ] That's the message. ENID. But--what--why? MADGE. Annie Roberts is dead. [There is a silence. ] ENID. [Horrified. ] But it's only a little more than an hour since Isaw her. MADGE. Of cold and hunger. ENID. [Rising. ] Oh! that's not true! the poor thing's heart----What makes you look at me like that? I tried to help her. MADGE. [With suppressed savagery. ] I thought you'd like to know. ENID. [Passionately. ] It's so unjust! Can't you see that I want tohelp you all? MADGE. I never harmed any one that had n't harmed me first. ENID. [Coldly. ] What harm have I done you? Why do you speak to melike that? MADGE. [With the bitterest intensity. ] You come out of your comfortto spy on us! A week of hunger, that's what you want! ENID. [Standing her ground. ] Don't talk nonsense! MADGE. I saw her die; her hands were blue with the cold. ENID. [With a movement of grief. ] Oh! why wouldn't she let me helpher? It's such senseless pride! MADGE. Pride's better than nothing to keep your body warm. ENID. [Passionately. ] I won't talk to you! How can you tell what Ifeel? It's not my fault that I was born better off than you. MADGE. We don't want your money. ENID. You don't understand, and you don't want to; please to goaway! MADGE. [Balefully. ] You've killed her, for all your soft words, youand your father! ENID. [With rage and emotion. ] That's wicked! My father issuffering himself through this wretched strike. MADGE. [With sombre triumph. ] Then tell him Mrs. Roberts is dead!That 'll make him better. ENID. Go away! MADGE. When a person hurts us we get it back on them. [She makes a sudden and swift movement towards ENID, fixing her eyes on the child's frock lying across the little table. ENID snatches the frock up, as though it were the child itself. They stand a yard apart, crossing glances. ] MADGE. [Pointing to the frock with a little smile. ] Ah! You feltthat! Lucky it's her mother--not her children--you've to look after, is n't it. She won't trouble you long! ENID. Go away! MADGE. I've given you the message. [She turns and goes out into the hall. ENID, motionless till she has gone, sinks down at the table, bending her head over the frock, which she is still clutching to her. The double-doors are opened, and ANTHONY comes slowly in; he passes his daughter, and lowers himself into an arm-chair. He is very flushed. ] ENID. [Hiding her emotion-anxiously. ] What is it, Dad? [ANTHONY makes a gesture, but does not speak. ] Who was it? [ANTHONY does not answer. ENID going to the double-doors meets EDGAR Coming in. They speak together in low tones. ] What is it, Ted? EDGAR. That fellow Wilder! Taken to personalities! He wasdownright insulting. ENID. What did he say? EDGAR. Said, Father was too old and feeble to know what he wasdoing! The Dad's worth six of him! ENID. Of course he is. [They look at ANTHONY. ] [The doors open wider, WANKLIN appears With SCANTLEBURY. ] SCANTLEBURY. [Sotto voce. ] I don't like the look of this! WANKLIN. [Going forward. ] Come, Chairman! Wilder sends you hisapologies. A man can't do more. [WILDER, followed by TENCH, comes in, and goes to ANTHONY. ] WILDER. [Glumly. ] I withdraw my words, sir. I'm sorry. [ANTHONY nods to him. ] ENID. You have n't come to a decision, Mr. Wanklin? [WANKLIN shakes his head. ] WANKLIN. We're all here, Chairman; what do you say? Shall we get onwith the business, or shall we go back to the other room? SCANTLEBURY. Yes, yes; let's get on. We must settle something. [He turns from a small chair, and settles himself suddenly in the largest chair with a sigh of comfort. ] [WILDER and WANKLIN also sit; and TENCH, drawing up a straight-backed chair close to his Chairman, sits on the edge of it with the minute-book and a stylographic pen. ] ENID. [Whispering. ] I want to speak to you a minute, Ted. [They go out through the double-doors. ] WANKLIN. Really, Chairman, it's no use soothing ourselves with asense of false security. If this strike's not brought to an endbefore the General Meeting, the shareholders will certainly haul usover the coals. SCANTLEBURY. [Stirring. ] What--what's that? WANKLIN. I know it for a fact. ANTHONY. Let them! WILDER. And get turned out? WANKLIN. [To ANTHONY. ] I don't mind martyrdom for a policy in whichI believe, but I object to being burnt for some one else'sprinciples. SCANTLEBURY. Very reasonable--you must see that, Chairman. ANTHONY. We owe it to other employers to stand firm. WANKLIN. There's a limit to that. ANTHONY. You were all full of fight at the start. SCANTLEBURY. [With a sort of groan. ] We thought the men would givein, but they-have n't! ANTHONY. They will! WILDER. [Rising and pacing up and down. ] I can't have my reputationas a man of business destroyed for the satisfaction of starving themen out. [Almost in tears. ] I can't have it! How can we meet theshareholders with things in the state they are? SCANTLEBURY. Hear, hear--hear, hear! WILDER. [Lashing himself. ] If any one expects me to say to themI've lost you fifty thousand pounds and sooner than put my pride inmy pocket I'll lose you another. [Glancing at ANTHONY. ] It's--it'sunnatural! I don't want to go against you, sir. WANKLIN. [Persuasively. ] Come Chairman, we 're not free agents. We're part of a machine. Our only business is to see the Companyearns as much profit as it safely can. If you blame me for want ofprinciple: I say that we're Trustees. Reason tells us we shall neverget back in the saving of wages what we shall lose if we continuethis struggle--really, Chairman, we must bring it to an end, on thebest terms we can make. ANTHONY. No. [There is a pause of general dismay. ] WILDER. It's a deadlock then. [Letting his hands drop with a sortof despair. ] Now I shall never get off to Spain! WANKLIN. [Retaining a trace of irony. ] You hear the consequences ofyour victory, Chairman? WILDER. [With a burst of feeling. ] My wife's ill! SCANTLEBURY. Dear, dear! You don't say so. WILDER. If I don't get her out of this cold, I won't answer for theconsequences. [Through the double-doors EDGAR comes in looking very grave. ] EDGAR. [To his Father. ] Have you heard this, sir? Mrs. Roberts isdead! [Every one stages at him, as if trying to gauge the importance of this news. ] Enid saw her this afternoon, she had no coals, or food, or anything. It's enough! [There is a silence, every one avoiding the other's eyes, except ANTHONY, who stares hard at his son. ] SCANTLEBURY. You don't suggest that we could have helped the poorthing? WILDER. [Flustered. ] The woman was in bad health. Nobody can saythere's any responsibility on us. At least--not on me. EDGAR. [Hotly. ] I say that we are responsible. ANTHONY. War is war! EDGAR. Not on women! WANKLIN. It not infrequently happens that women are the greatestsufferers. EDGAR. If we knew that, all the more responsibility rests on us. ANTHONY. This is no matter for amateurs. EDGAR. Call me what you like, sir. It's sickened me. We had noright to carry things to such a length. WILDER. I don't like this business a bit--that Radical rag willtwist it to their own ends; see if they don't! They'll get up somecock and bull story about the poor woman's dying from starvation. Iwash my hands of it. EDGAR. You can't. None of us can. SCANTLEBURY. [Striking his fist on the arm of his chair. ] But Iprotest against this! EDGAR. Protest as you like, Mr. Scantlebury, it won't alter facts. ANTHONY. That's enough. EDGAR. [Facing him angrily. ] No, sir. I tell you exactly what Ithink. If we pretend the men are not suffering, it's humbug; and ifthey're suffering, we know enough of human nature to know the womenare suffering more, and as to the children--well--it's damnable! [SCANTLEBURY rises from his chair. ] I don't say that we meant to be cruel, I don't say anything of thesort; but I do say it's criminal to shut our eyes to the facts. Weemploy these men, and we can't get out of it. I don't care so muchabout the men, but I'd sooner resign my position on the Board than goon starving women in this way. [All except ANTHONY are now upon their feet, ANTHONY sits grasping the arms of his chair and staring at his son. ] SCANTLEBURY. I don't--I don't like the way you're putting it, youngsir. WANKLIN. You're rather overshooting the mark. WILDER. I should think so indeed! EDGAR. [Losing control. ] It's no use blinking things! If you wantto have the death of women on your hands--I don't! SCANTLEBURY. Now, now, young man! WILDER. On our hands? Not on mine, I won't have it! EDGAR. We are five members of this Board; if we were four againstit, why did we let it drift till it came to this? You know perfectlywell why--because we hoped we should starve the men out. Well, allwe've done is to starve one woman out! SCANTLEBURY. [Almost hysterically. ] I protest, I protest! I'm ahumane man--we're all humane men! EDGAR. [Scornfully. ] There's nothing wrong with our humanity. It'sour imaginations, Mr. Scantlebury. WILDER. Nonsense! My imagination's as good as yours. EDGAR. If so, it is n't good enough. WILDER. I foresaw this! EDGAR. Then why didn't you put your foot down! WILDER. Much good that would have done. [He looks at ANTHONY. ] EDGAR. If you, and I, and each one of us here who say that ourimaginations are so good-- SCANTLEBURY. [Flurried. ] I never said so. EDGAR. [Paying no attention. ]--had put our feet down, the thingwould have been ended long ago, and this poor woman's life wouldn'thave been crushed out of her like this. For all we can tell theremay be a dozen other starving women. SCANTLEBURY. For God's sake, sir, don't use that word at a--at aBoard meeting; it's--it's monstrous. EDGAR. I will use it, Mr. Scantlebury. SCANTLEBURY. Then I shall not listen to you. I shall not listen!It's painful to me. [He covers his ears. ] WANKLIN. None of us are opposed to a settlement, except your Father. EDGAR. I'm certain that if the shareholders knew---- WANKLIN. I don't think you'll find their imaginations are any betterthan ours. Because a woman happens to have a weak heart---- EDGAR. A struggle like this finds out the weak spots in everybody. Any child knows that. If it hadn't been for this cut-throat policy, she need n't have died like this; and there would n't be all thismisery that any one who is n't a fool can see is going on. [Throughout the foregoing ANTHONY has eyed his son; he now moves as though to rise, but stops as EDGAR speaks again. ] I don't defend the men, or myself, or anybody. WANKLIN. You may have to! A coroner's jury of disinterestedsympathisers may say some very nasty things. We mustn't lose sightof our position. SCANTLEBURY. [Without uncovering his ears. ] Coroner's jury! No, no, it's not a case for that! EDGAR. I 've had enough of cowardice. WANKLIN. Cowardice is an unpleasant word, Mr. Edgar Anthony. Itwill look very like cowardice if we suddenly concede the men'sdemands when a thing like this happens; we must be careful! WILDER. Of course we must. We've no knowledge of this matter, except a rumour. The proper course is to put the whole thing intothe hands of Harness to settle for us; that's natural, that's what weshould have come to any way. SCANTLEBURY. [With dignity. ] Exactly! [Turning to EDGAR. ] And asto you, young sir, I can't sufficiently express my--my distaste forthe way you've treated the whole matter. You ought to withdraw!Talking of starvation, talking of cowardice! Considering what ourviews are! Except your own is--is one of goodwill--it's mostirregular, it's most improper, and all I can say is it's--it's givenme pain---- [He places his hand over his heart. ] EDGAR. [Stubbornly. ] I withdraw nothing. [He is about to say mote when SCANTLEBURY once more coveys up his ears. TENCH suddenly makes a demonstration with the minute-book. A sense of having been engaged in the unusual comes over all of them, and one by one they resume their seats. EDGAR alone remains on his feet. ] WILDER. [With an air of trying to wipe something out. ] I pay noattention to what young Mr. Anthony has said. Coroner's jury! Theidea's preposterous. I--I move this amendment to the Chairman'sMotion: That the dispute be placed at once in the hands of Mr. SimonHarness for settlement, on the lines indicated by him this morning. Any one second that? [TENCH writes in his book. ] WANKLIN. I do. WILDER. Very well, then; I ask the Chairman to put it to the Board. ANTHONY. [With a great sigh-slowly. ] We have been made the subjectof an attack. [Looking round at WILDER and SCANTLEBURY with ironicalcontempt. ] I take it on my shoulders. I am seventy-six years old. Ihave been Chairman of this Company since its inception two-and-thirtyyears ago. I have seen it pass through good and evil report. Myconnection with it began in the year that this young man was born. [EDGAR bows his head. ANTHONY, gripping his chair, goes on. ] I have had do to with "men" for fifty years; I've always stood up tothem; I have never been beaten yet. I have fought the men of thisCompany four times, and four times I have beaten them. It has beensaid that I am not the man I was. [He looks at Wilder. ] Howeverthat may be, I am man enough to stand to my guns. [His voice grows stronger. The double-doors are opened. ENID slips in, followed by UNDERWOOD, who restrains her. ] The men have been treated justly, they have had fair wages, we havealways been ready to listen to complaints. It has been said thattimes have changed; if they have, I have not changed with them. Neither will I. It has been said that masters and men are equal!Cant! There can only be one master in a house! Where two men meetthe better man will rule. It has been said that Capital and Labourhave the same interests. Cant! Their interests are as wide asunderas the poles. It has been said that the Board is only part of amachine. Cant! We are the machine; its brains and sinews; it is forus to lead and to determine what is to be done, and to do it withoutfear or favour. Fear of the men! Fear of the shareholders! Fear ofour own shadows! Before I am like that, I hope to die. [He pauses, and meeting his son's eyes, goes on. ] There is only one way of treating "men"--with the iron hand. Thishalf and half business, the half and half manners of this generation, has brought all this upon us. Sentiment and softness, and what thisyoung man, no doubt, would call his social policy. You can't eatcake and have it! This middle-class sentiment, or socialism, orwhatever it may be, is rotten. Masters are masters, men are men!Yield one demand, and they will make it six. They are [he smilesgrimly] like Oliver Twist, asking for more. If I were in theirplace I should be the same. But I am not in their place. Mark mywords: one fine morning, when you have given way here, and given waythere--you will find you have parted with the ground beneath yourfeet, and are deep in the bog of bankruptcy; and with you, floundering in that bog, will be the very men you have given way to. I have been accused of being a domineering tyrant, thinking only ofmy pride--I am thinking of the future of this country, threatenedwith the black waters of confusion, threatened with mob government, threatened with what I cannot see. If by any conduct of mine I helpto bring this on us, I shall be ashamed to look my fellows in theface. [ANTHONY stares before him, at what he cannot see, and there is perfect stillness. FROST comes in from the hall, and all but ANTHONY look round at him uneasily. ] FROST. [To his master. ] The men are here, sir. [ANTHONY makes agesture of dismissal. ] Shall I bring them in, sir? ANTHONY. Wait! [FROST goes out, ANTHONY turns to face his son. ] I come to the attack that has been made upon me. [EDGAR, with a gesture of deprecation, remains motionless with his head a little bowed. ] A woman has died. I am told that her blood is on my hands; I am toldthat on my hands is the starvation and the suffering of other womenand of children. EDGAR. I said "on our hands, " sir. ANTHONY. It is the same. [His voice grows stronger and stronger, his feeling is more and more made manifest. ] I am not aware that ifmy adversary suffer in a fair fight not sought by me, it is my fault. If I fall under his feet--as fall I may--I shall not complain. Thatwill be my look-out--and this is--his. I cannot separate, as Iwould, these men from their women and children. A fair fight is afair fight! Let them learn to think before they pick a quarrel! EDGAR. [In a low voice. ] But is it a fair fight, Father? Look atthem, and look at us! They've only this one weapon! ANTHONY. [Grimly. ] And you're weak-kneed enough to teach them howto use it! It seems the fashion nowadays for men to take theirenemy's side. I have not learnt that art. Is it my fault that theyquarrelled with their Union too? EDGAR. There is such a thing as Mercy. ANTHONY. And justice comes before it. EDGAR. What seems just to one man, sir, is injustice to another. ANTHONY. [With suppressed passion. ] You accuse me of injustice--ofwhat amounts to inhumanity--of cruelty? [EDGAR makes a gesture of horror--a general frightened movement. ] WANKLIN. Come, come, Chairman. ANTHONY. [In a grim voice. ] These are the words of my own son. They are the words of a generation that I don't understand; the wordsof a soft breed. [A general murmur. With a violent effort ANTHONY recovers his control. ] EDGAR. [Quietly. ] I said it of myself, too, Father. [A long look is exchanged between them, and ANTHONY puts out his hand with a gesture as if to sweep the personalities away; then places it against his brow, swaying as though from giddiness. There is a movement towards him. He moves them back. ] ANTHONY. Before I put this amendment to the Board, I have one moreword to say. [He looks from face to face. ] If it is carried, itmeans that we shall fail in what we set ourselves to do. It meansthat we shall fail in the duty that we owe to all Capital. It meansthat we shall fail in the duty that we owe ourselves. It means thatwe shall be open to constant attack to which we as constantly shallhave to yield. Be under no misapprehension--run this time, and youwill never make a stand again! You will have to fly like curs beforethe whips of your own men. If that is the lot you wish for, you willvote for this amendment. [He looks again, from face to face, finally resting his gaze on EDGAR; all sit with their eyes on the ground. ANTHONY makes a gesture, and TENCH hands him the book. He reads. ] "Moved by Mr. Wilder, and seconded by Mr. Wanklin: 'That the men'sdemands be placed at once in the hands of Mr. Simon Harness forsettlement on the lines indicated by him this morning. '" [Withsudden vigour. ] Those in favour: Signify the same in the usual way! [For a minute no one moves; then hastily, just as ANTHONY is about to speak, WILDER's hand and WANKLIN'S are held up, then SCANTLEBURY'S, and last EDGAR'S who does not lift his head. ] [ANTHONY lifts his own hand. ] [In a clear voice. ] The amendment is carried. I resign my positionon this Board. [ENID gasps, and there is dead silence. ANTHONY sits motionless, his head slowly drooping; suddenly he heaves as though the whole of his life had risen up within him. ] Contrary? Fifty years! You have disgraced me, gentlemen. Bring in the men! [He sits motionless, staring before him. The Board draws hurriedly together, and forms a group. TENCH in a frightened manner speaks into the hall. UNDERWOOD almost forces ENID from the room. ] WILDER. [Hurriedly. ] What's to be said to them? Why isn't Harnesshere? Ought we to see the men before he comes? I don't---- TENCH. Will you come in, please? [Enter THOMAS, GREEN, BULGIN, and ROUS, who file up in a row past the little table. TENCH sits down and writes. All eyes are foxed on ANTHONY, who makes no sign. ] WANKLIN. [Stepping up to the little table, with nervous cordiality. ]Well, Thomas, how's it to be? What's the result of your meeting? ROUS. Sim Harness has our answer. He'll tell you what it is. We'rewaiting for him. He'll speak for us. WANKLIN. Is that so, Thomas? THOMAS. [Sullenly. ] Yes. Roberts will not pe coming, his wife isdead. SCANTLEBURY. Yes, yes! Poor woman! Yes! Yes! FROST. [Entering from the hall. ] Mr. Harness, Sir! [As HARNESS enters he retires. ] [HARNESS has a piece of paper in his hand, he bows to the Directors, nods towards the men, and takes his stand behind the little table in the very centre of the room. ] HARNESS. Good evening, gentlemen. [TENCH, with the paper he has been writing, joins him, they speak together in low tones. ] WILDER. We've been waiting for you, Harness. Hope we shall come tosome---- FROST. [Entering from the hall. ] Roberts! [He goes. ] [ROBERTS comes hastily in, and stands staring at ANTHONY. His face is drawn and old. ] ROBERTS. Mr. Anthony, I am afraid I am a little late, I would havebeen here in time but for something that--has happened. [To themen. ] Has anything been said? THOMAS. No! But, man, what made ye come? ROBERTS. Ye told us this morning, gentlemen, to go away andreconsider our position. We have reconsidered it; we are here tobring you the men's answer. [To ANTHONY. ] Go ye back to London. Wehave nothing for you. By no jot or tittle do we abate our demands, nor will we until the whole of those demands are yielded. [ANTHONY looks at him but does not speak. There is a movement amongst the men as though they were bewildered. ] HARNESS. Roberts! ROBERTS. [Glancing fiercely at him, and back to ANTHONY. ] Is thatclear enough for ye? Is it short enough and to the point? Ye made amistake to think that we would come to heel. Ye may break the body, but ye cannot break the spirit. Get back to London, the men havenothing for ye? [Pausing uneasily he takes a step towards the unmoving ANTHONY. ] EDGAR. We're all sorry for you, Roberts, but---- ROBERTS. Keep your sorrow, young man. Let your father speak! HARNESS. [With the sheet of paper in his hand, speaking from behindthe little table. ] Roberts! ROBERT. [TO ANTHONY, with passionate intensity. ] Why don't yeanswer? HARNESS. Roberts! ROBERTS. [Turning sharply. ] What is it? HARNESS. [Gravely. ] You're talking without the book; things havetravelled past you. [He makes a sign to TENCH, who beckons the Directors. They quickly sign his copy of the terms. ] Look at this, man! [Holding up his sheet of paper. ] "Demandsconceded, with the exception of those relating to the engineers andfurnace-men. Double wages for Saturday's overtime. Night-shifts asthey are. " These terms have been agreed. The men go back to workagain to-morrow. The strike is at an end. ROBERTS. [Reading the paper, and turning on the men. They shrinkback from him, all but ROUS, who stands his ground. With deadlystillness. ] Ye have gone back on me? I stood by ye to the death; yewaited for that to throw me over! [The men answer, all speaking together. ] ROUS. It's a lie! THOMAS. Ye were past endurance, man. GREEN. If ye'd listen to me! BULGIN. (Under his breath. ) Hold your jaw! ROBERTS. Ye waited for that! HARNESS. [Taking the Director's copy of the terms, and handing hisown to TENCH. ] That's enough, men. You had better go. [The men shuffle slowly, awkwardly away. ] WILDER. [In a low, nervous voice. ] There's nothing to stay for now, I suppose. [He follows to the door. ] I shall have a try for thattrain! Coming, Scantlebury? SCANTLEBURY. [Following with WANKLIN. ] Yes, yes; wait for me. [Hestops as ROBERTS speaks. ] ROBERTS. [To ANTHONY. ] But ye have not signed them terms! Theycan't make terms without their Chairman! Ye would never sign themterms! [ANTHONY looks at him without speaking. ] Don't tell me yehave! for the love o' God! [With passionate appeal. ] I reckoned onye! HARNESS. [Holding out the Director's copy of the teems. ] The Boardhas signed! [ROBERTS looks dully at the signatures--dashes the paper from him, and covers up his eyes. ] SCANTLEBURY. [Behind his hand to TENCH. ] Look after the Chairman!He's not well; he's not well--he had no lunch. If there's any fundstarted for the women and children, put me down for--for twentypounds. [He goes out into the hall, in cumbrous haste; and WANKLIN, who has been staring at ROBERTS and ANTHONY With twitchings of his face, follows. EDGAR remains seated on the sofa, looking at the ground; TENCH, returning to the bureau, writes in his minute-- book. HARNESS stands by the little table, gravely watching ROBERTS. ] ROBERTS. Then you're no longer Chairman of this Company! [Breakinginto half-mad laughter. ] Ah! ha-ah, ha, ha! They've thrown ye overthrown over their Chairman: Ah-ha-ha! [With a sudden dreadful calm. ]So--they've done us both down, Mr. Anthony? [ENID, hurrying through the double-doors, comes quickly to her father. ] ANTHONY. Both broken men, my friend Roberts! HARNESS. [Coming down and laying his hands on ROBERTS'S sleeve. ]For shame, Roberts! Go home quietly, man; go home! ROBERTS. [Tearing his arm away. ] Home? [Shrinking together--in awhisper. ] Home! ENID. [Quietly to her father. ] Come away, dear! Come to your room [ANTHONY rises with an effort. He turns to ROBERTS who looks at him. They stand several seconds, gazing at each other fixedly; ANTHONY lifts his hand, as though to salute, but lets it fall. The expression of ROBERTS'S face changes from hostility to wonder. They bend their heads in token of respect. ANTHONY turns, and slowly walks towards the curtained door. Suddenly he sways as though about to fall, recovers himself, and is assisted out by EDGAR and ENID; UNDERWOOD follows, but stops at the door. ROBERTS remains motionless for several seconds, staring intently after ANTHONY, then goes out into the hall. ] TENCH. [Approaching HARNESS. ] It's a great weight off my mind, Mr. Harness! But what a painful scene, sir! [He wipes his brow. ] [HARNESS, pale and resolute, regards with a grim half-smile the quavering. ] TENCH. It's all been so violent! What did he mean by: "Done us bothdown?" If he has lost his wife, poor fellow, he oughtn't to havespoken to the Chairman like that! HARNESS. A woman dead; and the two best men both broken! TENCH. [Staring at him-suddenly excited. ] D'you know, sir--theseterms, they're the very same we drew up together, you and I, and putto both sides before the fight began? All this--all this--and--andwhat for? HARNESS. [In a slow grim voice. ] That's where the fun comes in! [UNDERWOOD without turning from the door makes a gesture of assent. ] The curtain falls. THE END