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 for meself.  I wass brought up to go without a thing, if I hat not moneys to puy it.  There iss too much, look you, of doing things with other people’s moneys.  We haf fought fair, and if we haf peen beaten, it iss no fault of ours.  Gif us the power to make terms with London for ourself; if we ton’t succeed, I say it iss petter to take our peating like men, than to tie like togs, or hang on to others’ coat-tails to make them do our pisiness for us!

Evans. [Muttering.] Who wants to?

Thomas. [Craning.] What’s that?  If I stand up to a potty, and he knocks 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 to stay 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 to say——­

Davies. [Muttering.] An’ time too!

Thomas. [Solemnly.] Chapel says:  Ton’t carry on this strife!  Put an 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 it both 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 the roat to tamnation.  An’ so I say to all of you.  If ye co against Chapel 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!”]