mechanics in the universe, that it was he who had discovered this, that
it was he who had drawn up the ultimatum which had been presented to the
masters and refused. His peroration was friendly but appealing.

"There are some amongst Boulding's people," he wound up, "who, they tell
me, are satisfied. If so, I hope they are not here. They haven't any
place here. To them I would say--'If you are satisfied with twenty-four
shillings a week, well, don't waste a penny in subscribing to the
Unions, but go and spend your twenty-four shillings a week and live on
it and enjoy it, and get fat on it if you can.' But to those others I
want to say that it's just as easy to get twenty-eight. The masters
don't want you to strike just now. You only have to be firm and you can
get what's fair and right."

A man rose up in the hall.

"Is it true," he asked, "that Boulding's won't pay the advance?--that
they are going to close the doors to-morrow if we insist upon it?"

"It is true," Mr. Docker answered. "Are you afraid of that?"

The man hesitated.

"I don't know as 'afraid' is exactly the word," he said, "but I don't
fancy being out of work for a month or so, and perhaps losing my job at
the end of it. Fifteen bob a week from the Union won't keep my little
lot."

There was a murmur of applause. Docker pointed with threatening
forefinger to the man who had just sat down.

"It's the likes of him," he declared, "who keep down wages, who make
slaves of us! The likes of him, who haven't the pluck to ask for what
they might get at any time!"

He plunged into facts and figures, and Maraton more than once yawned.
He seemed to find more interest in watching the faces of the audience
than in listening to the stock arguments which were being thrown at
their heads. A little cloud of tobacco smoke hung about the room.
There were few women present, and most of the men were smoking. On the
whole they were a very earnest gathering. There were very few there who
were not deeply interested. Julia was listening to every word, her head
resting upon her hand, her lips a little parted, her eyes full of
smouldering fires. At the end of Docker's speech, one of the Union
officials got up on his feet. It was for the men themselves to decide,
he said. They had subscribed the money; it was for them to say whether
it should be used. Was the moment propitious for a blow on behalf of
their rights? If they thought so, then let it be war. If they asked
for h