to carry things to such a length.

WILDER. I don't like this business a bit--that Radical rag will
twist it to their own ends; see if they don't! They'll get up some
cock and bull story about the poor woman's dying from starvation. I
wash my hands of it.

EDGAR. You can't. None of us can.

SCANTLEBURY. [Striking his fist on the arm of his chair.] But I
protest against this!

EDGAR. Protest as you like, Mr. Scantlebury, it won't alter facts.

ANTHONY. That's enough.

EDGAR. [Facing him angrily.] No, sir. I tell you exactly what I
think. If we pretend the men are not suffering, it's humbug; and if
they're suffering, we know enough of human nature to know the women
are suffering more, and as to the children--well--it's damnable!

[SCANTLEBURY rises from his chair.]

I don't say that we meant to be cruel, I don't say anything of the
sort; but I do say it's criminal to shut our eyes to the facts. We
employ these men, and we can't get out of it. I don't care so much
about the men, but I'd sooner resign my position on the Board than go
on starving women in this way.

[All except ANTHONY are now upon their feet, ANTHONY sits
grasping the arms of his chair and staring at his son.]

SCANTLEBURY. I don't--I don't like the way you're putting it, young
sir.

WANKLIN. You're rather overshooting the mark.

WILDER. I should think so indeed!

EDGAR. [Losing control.] It's no use blinking things! If you want
to have the death of women on your hands--I don't!

SCANTLEBURY. Now, now, young man!

WILDER. On our hands? Not on mine, I won't have it!

EDGAR. We are five members of this Board; if we were four against
it, why did we let it drift till it came to this? You know perfectly
well why--because we hoped we should starve the men out. Well, all
we've done is to starve one woman out!

SCANTLEBURY. [Almost hysterically.] I protest, I protest! I'm a
humane man--we're all humane men!

EDGAR. [Scornfully.] There's nothing wrong with our humanity. It's
our imaginations, Mr. Scantlebury.

WILDER. Nonsense! My imagination's as good as yours.

EDGAR. If so, it is n't good enough.

WILDER. I foresaw this!

EDGAR. Then why didn't you put your foot down!

WILDER. Much good that would have done.

[He looks at ANTHONY.]

EDGAR. If you, and I, and each one of us here who say that our
imaginations are so good--

SCANTLEBURY. [Flurried.] I never said so.

E