believe--you are mad.
ROBERTS. The house of a madman then is not the fit place for a lady.
ENID. I 'm not afraid of you.
ROBERTS. [Bowing.] I would not expect the daughter of Mr. Anthony
to be afraid. Mr. Anthony is not a coward like the rest of them.
ENID. [Suddenly.] I suppose you think it brave, then, to go on with
the struggle.
ROBERTS. Does Mr. Anthony think it brave to fight against women and
children? Mr. Anthony is a rich man, I believe; does he think it
brave to fight against those who have n't a penny? Does he think it
brave to set children crying with hunger, an' women shivering with
cold?
ENID. [Putting up her hand, as though warding off a blow.] My
father is acting on his principles, and you know it!
ROBERTS. And so am I!
ENID. You hate us; and you can't bear to be beaten!
ROBERTS. Neither can Mr. Anthony, for all that he may say.
ENID. At any rate you might have pity on your wife.
[MRS. ROBERTS who has her hand pressed to her heart, takes it
away, and tries to calm her breathing.]
ROBERTS. Madam, I have no more to say.
[He takes up the loaf. There is a knock at the door, and
UNDERWOOD comes in. He stands looking at them, ENID turns to
him, then seems undecided.]
UNDERWOOD. Enid!
ROBERTS. [Ironically.] Ye were not needing to come for your wife,
Mr. Underwood. We are not rowdies.
UNDERWOOD. I know that, Roberts. I hope Mrs. Roberts is better.
[ROBERTS turns away without answering. Come, Enid!]
ENID. I make one more appeal to you, Mr. Roberts, for the sake of
your wife.
ROBERTS. [With polite malice.] If I might advise ye, Ma'am--make it
for the sake of your husband and your father.
[ENID, suppressing a retort, goes out. UNDERWOOD opens the door
for her and follows. ROBERTS, going to the fire, holds out his
hands to the dying glow.]
ROBERTS. How goes it, my girl? Feeling better, are you?
[MRS. ROBERTS smiles faintly. He brings his overcoat and wraps
it round her.]
[Looking at his watch.] Ten minutes to four! [As though inspired.]
I've seen their faces, there's no fight in them, except for that one
old robber.
MRS. ROBERTS. Won't you stop and eat, David? You've 'ad nothing all
day!
ROBERTS. [Putting his hand to his throat.] Can't swallow till those
old sharks are out o' the town: [He walks up and down.] I shall have
a bother with the men--there's no heart in
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