s sure to be a lot of 'Jolly good fellow' business
and speechmaking, and they had agreed together beforehand to take no
part one way or the other, and to refrain from openly dissenting from
anything that might be said, but they had not anticipated anything
quite so strong as this.

When Grinder sat down some of those who had applauded him began to jeer
at the Socialists.

'What have you got to say to that?' they shouted. 'That's up against
yer!'

'They ain't got nothing to say now.'

'Why don't some of you get up and make a speech?'

This last appeared to be a very good idea to those Liberals and Tories
who had not liked Grinder's observations, so they all began to shout
'Owen!' 'Owen!' 'Come on 'ere. Get up and make a speech!' 'Be a man!'
and so on. Several of those who had been loudest in applauding Grinder
also joined in the demand that Owen should make a speech, because they
were certain that Grinder and the other gentlemen would be able to
dispose of all his arguments; but Owen and the other Socialists made no
response except to laugh, so presently Crass tied a white handkerchief
on a cane walking-stick that belonged to Mr Didlum, and stuck it in the
vase of flowers that stood on the end of the table where the Socialist
group were sitting.

When the noise had in some measure ceased, Grinder again rose. 'When I
made the few remarks that I did, I didn't know as there was any
Socialists 'ere: I could tell from the look of you that most of you had
more sense. At the same time I'm rather glad I said what I did,
because it just shows you what sort of chaps these Socialists are.
They're pretty artful--they know when to talk and when to keep their
mouths shut. What they like is to get hold of a few ignorant workin'
men in a workshop or a public house, and then they can talk by the
mile--reg'ler shop lawyers, you know wot I mean--I'm right and
everybody else is wrong. (Laughter.) You know the sort of thing I
mean. When they finds theirselves in the company of edicated people
wot knows a little more than they does theirselves, and who isn't
likely to be misled by a lot of claptrap, why then, mum's the word. So
next time you hears any of these shop lawyers' arguments, you'll know
how much it's worth.'

Most of the men were delighted with this speech, which was received
with much laughing and knocking on the tables. They remarked to each
other that Grinder was a smart man: he'd got the Socialists weighed up