no strike that winter! [With grim humour.]
This winter's 'ard enough for me. Mrs. Roberts, you don't want no
'arder winter, do you? Wouldn't seem natural to 'ave a dinner, would
it, Mrs. Bulgin?

MRS. BULGIN. We've had bread and tea last four days.

MRS. YEO. You got that Friday's laundry job?

MRS. BULGIN. [Dispiritedly.] They said they'd give it me, but when
I went last Friday, they were full up. I got to go again next week.

MRS. YEO. Ah! There's too many after that. I send Yeo out on the
ice to put on the gentry's skates an' pick up what 'e can. Stops 'im
from broodin' about the 'ouse.

MRS. BULGIN. [In a desolate, matter-of-fact voice.] Leavin' 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