[In an injured voice.] You mean the men. H'm!

 

[UNDERWOOD goes out.]

 

SCANTLEBURY. Poor devils!

 

WILDER. It's their own fault, Scantlebury.

 

EDGAR. [Holding out his paper.] There's great distress among them, according to the Trenartha News.

 

WILDER. Oh, that rag! Give it to Wanklin. Suit his Radical views. They call us monsters, I suppose. The editor of that rubbish ought to be shot.

 

EDGAR. [Reading.] "If the Board of worthy gentlemen who control the Trenartha Tin Plate Works from their arm-chairs in London would condescend to come and see for themselves the conditions prevailing amongst their work-people during this strike"

 

WILDER. Well, we have come.

 

EDGAR. [Continuing.] "We cannot believe that even their leg-of-mutton hearts would remain untouched."

 

[WANKLIN takes the paper from him.]

 

WILDER. Ruffian! I remember that fellow when he hadn't a penny to his name; little snivel of a chap that's made his way by black-guarding everybody who takes a different view to himself.

 

[ANTHONY says something that is not heard.]

 

WILDER. What does your father say?

 

EDGAR. He says "The kettle and the pot."

 

WILDER. H'm!

 

[He sits down next to SCANTLEBURY.]

 

SCANTLEBURY. [Blowing out his cheeks.] I shall boil if I don't get that screen.

 

[UNDERWOOD and ENID enter with a screen, which they place before the fire. ENID is tall; she has a small, decided face, and is twenty-eight years old.]

 

ENID. Put it closer, Frank. Will that do, Mr. Wilder? It's the highest we've got.

 

WILDER. Thanks, capitally.

 

SCANTLEBURY. [Turning, with a sigh of pleasure.] Ah! Merci, Madame!

 

ENID. Is there anything else you want, Father? [ANTHONY shakes his head.] Edgar—anything?

 

EDGAR. You might give me a "J" nib, old girl.

 

ENID. There are some down there by Mr. Scantlebury.

 

SCANTLEBURY. [Handing a little box of nibs.] Ah! your brother uses "J's." What does the manager use? [With expansive politeness.] What does your husband use, Mrs. Underwood?

 

UNDERWOOD. A quill!

 

SCANTLEBURY.