out the
men--it's bad enough with the children. I keep 'em in bed, they
don't get so hungry when they're not running about; but they're that
restless in bed they worry your life out.

MRS. YEO. You're lucky they're all so small. It 's the goin' to
school that makes 'em 'ungry. Don't Bulgin give you anythin'?

MRS. BULGIN. [Shakes her head, then, as though by afterthought.]
Would if he could, I s'pose.

MRS. YEO. [Sardonically.] What! 'Ave n't 'e got no shares in the
Company?

MRS. ROUS. [Rising with tremulous cheerfulness.] Well, good-bye,
Annie Roberts, I'm going along home.

MRS. ROBERTS. Stay an' have a cup of tea, Mrs. Rous?

MRS. ROUS. [With the faintest smile.] Roberts 'll want 'is tea when
he comes in. I'll just go an' get to bed; it's warmer there than
anywhere.

[She moves very shakily towards the door.]

MRS. YEO. [Rising and giving her an arm.] Come on, Mother, take my
arm; we're all going' the same way.

MRS. ROUS. [Taking the arm.]Thank you, my dearies!

[THEY go out, followed by MRS. BULGIN.]

MADGE. [Moving for the first time.] There, Annie, you see that! I
told George Rous, "Don't think to have my company till you've made an
end of all this trouble. You ought to be ashamed," I said, "with
your own mother looking like a ghost, and not a stick to put on the
fire. So long as you're able to fill your pipes, you'll let us
starve." "I 'll take my oath, Madge," he said, "I 've not had smoke
nor drink these three weeks!" "Well, then, why do you go on with
it?" "I can't go back on Roberts!" . . . That's it! Roberts,
always Roberts! They'd all drop it but for him. When he talks it's
the devil that comes into them.

[A silence. MRS. ROBERTS makes a movement of pain.]

Ah! You don't want him beaten! He's your man. With everybody like
their own shadows! [She makes a gesture towards MRS. ROBERTS.] If
ROUS wants me he must give up Roberts. If he gave him up--they all
would. They're only waiting for a lead. Father's against him--
they're all against him in their hearts.

MRS. ROBERTS. You won't beat Roberts!

[They look silently at each other.]

MADGE. Won't I? The cowards--when their own mothers and their own
children don't know where to turn.

MRS. ROBERTS. Madge!

MADGE. [Looking searchingly at MRS. ROBERTS.] I wonder he can look
you in the face. [She squats before the fire, with her hands out to
the flame.] Harness is here ag