WORKMEN [_very civil and speaking together_] Good-morning, ladies and
gents.

FELIAT. Has my brother explained to you why he asked you to meet the
representatives of the Women's Union and to try to come to an
understanding with them?

GIRARD. Yes, Monsieur Feliat.

CHARPIN. That's all we want. All friends together, like.

DESCHAUME. That's the hammer, mate!

FELIAT. Then I'll go. Do try and keep your tempers.

ALL [_speaking together_] Oh yes. To be sure, sir. You needn't trouble,
sir.

_Feliat goes out. The workmen and workwomen left together
shake hands all round without any particular courtesy or
cordiality._

CHARPIN. Well, what d'you say to a sit down?

DESCHAUME [_speaking of Charpin_] That lazy swine's only comfortable
when he's sittin' down.

CHARPIN. I ain't agoing to tire meself for nix, not 'arf!

_Berthe and Constance have mechanically brought chairs for
the workmen, who take them without any thanks, accustomed as
they are to be waited upon. When all are seated they see
that Therese has been left standing._

CONSTANCE [_rising_] Have my chair, Mademoiselle.

THERESE. No, thank you, I prefer to stand.

CHARPIN. I see that all our little lot's here. There's four on us, but
only three 'er you.

DESCHAUME [_meaningly_] One of the hens ain't turned up yet.

CHARPIN [_sniggering_] Perhaps she's a bit shy, like.

THERESE. You mean Mother Bougne. You, workmen yourselves, mock at an old
woman wrecked by work. But you're right. She ought to be here. I'll go
and fetch her. Only to look at her would be an argument on our side.
[_She goes out to the right_]

DESCHAUME. Mademoiselle Therese needn't kick up such a dust about a
little thing like that. There's four on us; so there must be four on
you, in case we have to take a vote.

_Therese comes back with Mother Bougne._

THERESE [_to the workmen_] Give me a chair. [_They do so_] Sit down,
Mother Bougne. [_Insisting_] Mother Bougne, sit down.

MOTHER BOUGNE. Oh, don't trouble, miss, I'm not used to--

THERESE [_sharply_] Sit down.

_Mother Bougne sits down._

CHARPIN. Well, here's the bloomin' bunch of us.

DESCHAUME. We'd best fix up a chairman.

GIRARD. What's the good of that?

DESCHAUME. We'd best have you, Girard. You've education, and you're up
to all the dodges about public meetings.

GIRARD. It's not worth while.

DESCHAUME. Well, I only put it forrard because it's the usual. But