Enid. [Putting the kettle on.] That means he’ll lash them into a fury 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 have nothing!

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 you see 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.  As if I did n’t know what suffering there is amongst the men!  I do feel for them dreadfully, but you know they have gone too far.

Mrs. Roberts. [Continually moving her fingers.] They say there’s no other way to get better wages, M’m.

Enid. [Earnestly.] But, Annie, that’s why the Union won’t help them.  My husband’s very sympathetic with the men, but he says they are not underpaid.

Mrs. Roberts.  No, M’m?

Enid.  They never think how the Company could go on if we paid the wages they want.

Mrs. Roberts. [With an effort.] But the dividends having been so big, M’m.

Enid. [Takes aback.] You all seem to think the shareholders are rich men, but they’re not—­most of them are really no better off than working 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 other things that they do.  If the men did n’t spend such a lot in drink and betting they’d be quite well off!

Mrs. Roberts.  They say, workin’ so hard, they must have some pleasure.

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 other pleasures.

Enid. [Musing.] Of course, I know it’s hard.

Mrs. Roberts. [With a spice of malice.] And they say gentlefolk’s just as bad.

Enid. [With a smile.] I go as far as most people, Annie, but you know, yourself, that’s nonsense.