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-up from 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 the grave. He says that without a man is very near, and pinches and stints 'imself and 'is children to save, there can't be neither surplus nor security. That's why he wouldn't have no children [she sinks back], not though I wanted them.
ENID. Yes, yes, I know!
MRS. ROBERTS. No you don't, M'm. You've got your children, and you'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, wasn't he, 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 to a 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 get their own.
ENID. I don't see how they can be expected to when they 're suffering like this. [In a changed voice.] But Roberts ought to think of you! It's all terrible—! The kettle's boiling. Shall I make the tea? [She takes the teapot and, seeing tea there, pours water into it.] Won't you have a cup?
MRS. ROBERTS. No, thank you, M'm. [She is listening, as though for footsteps.] I'd—sooner you didn't see Roberts, M'm, he gets so wild.
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't excite 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 for coming 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 you come 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 know you've another meeting of the men.
[ROBERTS bows.]
I came to appeal to you. Please, please, try to come to some compromise; give way a little, if it's only for your own sakes!
ROBERTS. [Speaking to himself.] The daughter of Mr. Anthony begs me to 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 of Mr. Anthony.
ENID. Why are you so bitter against my father? He has never done anything to you.
ROBERTS. Has he not?
ENID. He can't help his views, any more than you can help yours.
ROBERTS. I really didn'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 to die, and I could save him by lifting my hand, I would not lift the little 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.
He says, M'm, that when a working man's baby is born, it's a toss-up from 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 the grave. He says that without a man is very near, and pinches and stints 'imself and 'is children to save, there can't be neither surplus nor security. That's why he wouldn't have no children [she sinks back], not though I wanted them.
ENID. Yes, yes, I know!
MRS. ROBERTS. No you don't, M'm. You've got your children, and you'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, wasn't he, 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 to a 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 get their own.
ENID. I don't see how they can be expected to when they 're suffering like this. [In a changed voice.] But Roberts ought to think of you! It's all terrible—! The kettle's boiling. Shall I make the tea? [She takes the teapot and, seeing tea there, pours water into it.] Won't you have a cup?
MRS. ROBERTS. No, thank you, M'm. [She is listening, as though for footsteps.] I'd—sooner you didn't see Roberts, M'm, he gets so wild.
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't excite 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 for coming 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 you come 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 know you've another meeting of the men.
[ROBERTS bows.]
I came to appeal to you. Please, please, try to come to some compromise; give way a little, if it's only for your own sakes!
ROBERTS. [Speaking to himself.] The daughter of Mr. Anthony begs me to 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 of Mr. Anthony.
ENID. Why are you so bitter against my father? He has never done anything to you.
ROBERTS. Has he not?
ENID. He can't help his views, any more than you can help yours.
ROBERTS. I really didn'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 to die, and I could save him by lifting my hand, I would not lift the little 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.
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