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, not for 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’ you mean 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 I saw 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 to help 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 me like that?

Madge. [With the bitterest intensity.] You come out of your comfort to 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 help her?  It’s such senseless pride!