had 'got them'--'you think
we women 'ave no business servin' on Boards and thinking about
politics.' In a tone of exquisite contempt, 'But wot's politics!' she
demanded. 'It's just 'ousekeepin' on a big scyle.' Somebody applauded.
'Oo among you workin' men 'as the most comfortable 'omes? Those of you
that gives yer wives yer wyges.'

'That's it! That's it!' they roared with passion.

'Wantin' our money.'

'That's all this agitation's about.'

'Listen to me!' She came close to the edge of the plinth. 'If it wus
only to use fur _our_ comfort, d'ye think many o' you workin' men would
be found turnin' over their wyges to their wives? No! Wot's the reason
thousands do--and the best and the soberest? Because the workin' man
knows that wot's a pound to _'im_ is twenty shillins to 'is wife, and
she'll myke every penny in every one o' them shillins _tell_. She gets
more fur 'im out of 'is wyges than wot 'e can. Some o' you know wot the
'omes is like w'ere the men _don't_ let the women manage. Well, the Poor
Laws and the 'ole Government is just in the syme muddle because the men
'ave tried to do the national 'ousekeepin' without the women!'

They hooted, but they listened, too.

'Like I said to you before, it's a libel to say it's only the well-off
women wot's wantin' the vote. I can tell you wot plenty o' the poor
women think about it. I'm one o' them! And I can tell you we see there's
reforms needed. _We ought to 'ave the vote_; and we know 'ow to
appreciate the other women 'oo go to prison for tryin' to get it for
us!'

With a little final bob of emphasis, and a glance over her shoulder at
the old woman and the young one behind her, she was about to retire. But
she paused as the murmur in the crowd grew into distinct phrases.

''Inderin' policemen!'--'Mykin' rows in the street;' and a voice called
out so near Jean that the girl jumped, 'It's the w'y yer goes on as
mykes 'em keep ye from gettin' votes. They see ye ain't fit to 'ave----'

And then all the varied charges were swallowed in a general uproar.

'Where's Geoffrey? Oh, _isn't_ she too funny for words?'

The agitated chairman had come forward. 'You evidently don't know,' he
said, 'what had to be done by _men_ before the extension of suffrage in
'67. If it hadn't been for demonstrations----' But the rest was drowned.

The brown-serge woman stood there waiting, wavering a moment; and
suddenly her shrill note rose clear over the indistinguishable Babel.

'Y