we all want Women's Franchise,
that we all mean to have it, that we are all prepared to work for it,
and, if necessary, to fight for it, to oppose the Government that
withholds it by every means in our power--"

"By every constitutional means," Miss Burstall amended, and was told by
Miss Gilchrist that, if she desired proceedings to be regular, she must
not interrupt the Chairwoman.

"--To oppose the Government that refuses us the vote, whatever
Government it may be, regardless of party, by _every means in
our power_."

Rosalind's sentences were punctuated by a rhythmic sound of tapping.
Miss Maud Blackadder, twisted sideways on the chair she had pushed
farther and farther back from the table, so as to bring herself
completely out of line with the other seven, from time to time,
rhythmically, twitching with impatience, struck her own leg with her own
walking-stick.

Rosalind perorated. "If we differ, we differ, not as to our end, but
solely as to the means we, personally and individually, are prepared to
employ." She looked round. "Agreed."

"Not agreed," said Dorothy and Miss Burstall and Miss Farmer all at
once.

"I will now call on Miss Maud Blackadder to speak. She will explain to
those of you who are strangers" (she glanced comprehensively at the
eleven young girls) "the present program of the Union."

"I protest," said Miss Burstall. "There has been confusion."

"There really _has_, Rosalind," said Dorothy. "You _must_ get it
straight. You can't start all at sixes and sevens. I protest too."

"We all three protest," said Miss Farmer, frowning and blinking in an
agony of protest.

"Silence, if you please, for the Chairwoman," said Miss Gilchrist.

"May we not say one word?"

"You may," said Rosalind, "in your turn. I now call on Miss Blackadder
to speak."

At the sound of her own name Miss Blackadder jumped to her feet. The
walking-stick fell to the floor with a light clatter and crash,
preluding her storm. She jerked out her words at a headlong pace, as if
to make up for the time the others had wasted in futilities.

"I am not going to say much, I am not going to take up your time. Too
much time has been lost already. I am not a speaker, I am not a writer,
I am not an intellectual woman, and if you ask me what I am and what I
am here for, and what I am doing in the Union, and what the Union is
doing with me, and what possible use I, an untrained girl, can be to you
clever women" (she looked tem