It is half-past three.In the kitchen of Roberts's cottage a meagre little fire is burning.The room is clean and tidy, very barely furnished, with a brick floor and white-washed walls, much stained with smoke.There is a kettle on the fire.A door opposite the fireplace opens inward from a snowy street.On the wooden table are a cup and saucer, a teapot, knife, and plate of bread and cheese.Close to the fireplace in an old arm-chair, wrapped in a rug, sits MRS.ROBERTS, a thin and dark-haired woman about thirty-five, with patient eyes.Her hair is not done up, but tied back with a piece of ribbon.By the fire, too, is MRS.YEO; a red-haired, broad-faced person.Sitting near the table is MRS.ROUS, an old lady, ashen-white, with silver hair; by the door, standing, as if about to go, is MRS.
BULGIN, a little pale, pinched-up woman.In a chair, with her elbows resting on the table, avid her face resting in her hands, sits MADGE THOMAS, a good-looking girl, of twenty-two, with high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and dark untidy hair.She is listening to the talk, but she neither speaks nor moves.
MRS.YEO.So he give me a sixpence, and that's the first bit o'
money I seen this week.There an't much 'eat to this fire.Come and warm yerself Mrs.Rous, you're lookin' as white as the snow, you are.
MRS.ROUS.[Shivering- placidly.] Ali! but the winter my old man was took was the proper winter.Seventy-nine that was, when none of you was hardly born--not Madge Thomas, nor Sue Bulgin.[Looking at them in turn.] Annie Roberts, 'ow old were you, dear?
MRS ROBERTS.Seven, Mrs.Rous.
MRS.ROUS.Seven--well, there! A tiny little thing!
MRS.YEO.[Aggressively.] Well, I was ten myself, I remembers it.
MRS.Rous.[Placidly.] The Company hadn't been started three years.
Father was workin' on the acid, that's 'ow he got 'is pisoned-leg.
I kep' sayin' to 'im, "Father, you've got a pisoned leg." "Well," 'e said, "Mother, pison or no pison, I can't afford to go a-layin' up."An' two days after, he was on 'is back, and never got up again.It was Providence! There was n't none o' these Compensation Acts then.
MRS.YEO.Ye had n't 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! Itold 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 again.They'll have to make up their minds to-day.
MRS.ROBERTS.[In a soft, slow voice, with a slight West-country burr.] Roberts will never give up the furnace-men and engineers.
'T wouldn't be right.
MADGE.You can't deceive me.It's just his pride.
[A tapping at the door is heard, the women turn as ENID enters.
She wears a round fur cap, and a jacket of squirrel's fur.She closes the door behind her.]
ENID.Can I come in, Annie?
MRS.ROBERTS.[Flinching.] Miss Enid! Give Mrs.Underwood a chair, Madge!
[MADGE gives ENID the chair she has been sitting on.]
ENID.Thank you!
ENID.Are you any better?
MRS.ROBERTS.Yes, M'm; thank you, M'm.
ENID.[Looking at the sullen MADGE as though requesting her departure.] Why did you send back the jelly? I call that really wicked of you!
MRS.ROBERTS.Thank you, M'm, I'd no need for it.
ENID.Of course! It was Roberts's doing, wasn't it? How can he let all this suffering go on amongst you?
