t judge of her deeds in that awful moment of
half-crazed temptation? Women know of these things as those know burning
who have walked through fire.'

Stonor looked down at the girl at his side. He saw her hands go up to
her throat as though she were suffocating. The young face, where some
harsh knowledge was struggling for birth, was in pity turned away from
the man she loved.

The woman leaned down from the platform, and spoke her last words with a
low and thrilling earnestness.

'I would say in conclusion to the women here, it's not enough to be
sorry for these, our unfortunate sisters. We must get the conditions of
life made fairer. We women must organize. We must learn to work
together. We have all (rich and poor, happy and unhappy) worked so long
and so exclusively for men, we hardly know how to work for one another.
But we must learn. Those who can, may give money. Those who haven't
pennies to give, even those people are not so poor but what they can
give some part of their labour--some share of their sympathy and
support. I know of a woman--she isn't of our country--but a woman who,
to help the women strikers of an oppressed industry to hold out, gave a
thousand pounds a week for thirteen weeks to get them and their children
bread, and help them to stand firm. The masters were amazed. Week after
week went by, and still the people weren't starved into submission.
Where did this mysterious stream of help come from? The employers
couldn't discover, and they gave in. The women got back their old
wages, and I am glad to say many of them began to put by pennies to help
a little to pay back the great sum that had been advanced to them.'

'She took their pennies--a rich woman like that?'

'Yes--to use again, as well as to let the working women feel they were
helping others. I hope you'll all join the Union. Come up after the
meeting is over and give us your names.'

As she turned away, 'You won't get any men!' a taunting voice called
after her.

The truth in the gibe seemed to sting. Forestalling the chairman,
quickly she confronted the people again, a new fire in her eyes.

'Then,' she said, holding out her hands--'then _it is to the women I
appeal_!' She stood so an instant, stilling the murmur, and holding the
people by that sudden concentration of passion in her face. 'I don't
mean to say it wouldn't be better if men and women did this work
together, shoulder to shoulder. But the mass of men won't have it so