Mrs. Roberts.  Madge!

Madge. [Throwing her shawl over her head.] Please to let us keep ourselves to ourselves.  We don’t want you coming here and spying on us.

Enid. [Confronting her, but without rising.] I did n’t speak to you.

Madge. [In a low, fierce voice.] Keep your kind feelings to yourself.  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 of my 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 upset to-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 is n’t it, Annie?

Mrs. Roberts. [Softly, with her eyes on Enid, and moving the fingers of one hand continually on her breast.] They do say that your father, 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.  I know it’s his fault as well as Roberts’s.

Mrs. Roberts.  I’m sorry for any one that gets old, M’m; it ’s dreadful to get old, and Mr. Anthony was such a fine old man, I always used to think.

Enid. [Impulsively.] He always liked you, don’t you remember?  Look here, Annie, what can I do?  I do so want to know.  You don’t get what you ought to have. [Going to the fire, she takes the kettle off, and looks for coals.] And you’re so naughty sending back the soup 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 to meet the men at four.

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.