Mind your own business, or take a month's notice!" Beg
pardon, M'm, for using such a word.

ENID. [Moving to the double-doors, and listening.] Do you know that
man Roberts, Frost?

FROST. Yes, M'm; that's to say, not to speak to. But to look at 'im
you can tell what he's like.

ENID. [Stopping.] Yes?

FROST. He's not one of these 'ere ordinary 'armless Socialists.
'E's violent; got a fire inside 'im. What I call "personal." A man
may 'ave what opinions 'e likes, so long as 'e 's not personal; when
'e 's that 'e 's not safe.

ENID. I think that's what my father feels about Roberts.

FROST. No doubt, M'm, Mr. Anthony has a feeling against him.

[ENID glances at him sharply, but finding him in perfect
earnest, stands biting her lips, and looking at the
double-doors.]

It 's, a regular right down struggle between the two. I've no
patience with this Roberts, from what I 'ear he's just an ordinary
workin' man like the rest of 'em. If he did invent a thing he's no
worse off than 'undreds of others. My brother invented a new kind o'
dumb-waiter--nobody gave him anything for it, an' there it is, bein'
used all over the place.

[ENID moves closer to the double-doors.]

There's a kind o' man that never forgives the world, because 'e
wasn't born a gentleman. What I say is--no man that's a gentleman
looks down on another because 'e 'appens to be a class or two above
'im, no more than if 'e 'appens to be a class or two below.

ENID. [With slight impatience.] Yes, I know, Frost, of course.
Will you please go in and ask if they'll have some tea; say I sent
you.

FROST. Yes, M'm.

[He opens the doors gently and goes in. There is a momentary
sound of earnest, gather angry talk.]

WILDER. I don't agree with you.

WANKLIN. We've had this over a dozen times.

EDGAR. [Impatiently.] Well, what's the proposition?

SCANTLEBURY. Yes, what does your father say? Tea? Not for me, not
for me!

WANKLIN. What I understand the Chairman to say is this----

[FROST re-enters closing the door behind him.]

ENID. [Moving from the door.] Won't they have any tea, Frost?

[She goes to the little table, and remains motionless, looking
at the baby's frock.]

[A parlourmaid enters from the hall.]

PARLOURMAID. A Miss Thomas, M'm

ENID. [Raising her head.] Thomas? What Miss Thomas--d' you
mean a----?

PARLOURMAID. Yes, M'm.

ENID. [Blankly.]