ntitled to say what
you like, no doubt--but after! That's going against your country.
Ah! his speech was strong, you know--his speech was strong.

KATHERINE. He had made up his mind to speak. It was just an
accident the news coming then.

[A silence.]

BANNING. Well, that's true, I suppose. What we really want is to
make sure he won't break out again.

HOME. Very high-minded, his views of course--but, some consideration
for the common herd. You'll pardon me!

SHELDER. We've come with the friendliest feelings, Mrs. More--but,
you know, it won't do, this sort of thing!

WACE. We shall be able to smooth him down. Oh! surely.

BANNING. We'd be best perhaps not to mention about his knowing that
fighting had begun.

[As he speaks, MORE enters through the French windows. They all
rise.]

MORE. Good-morning, gentlemen.

[He comes down to the table, but does not offer to shake hands.]

BANNING. Well, Mr. More? You've made a woeful mistake, sir; I tell
you to your face.

MORE. As everybody else does, Banning. Sit down again, please.

[They gradually resume their seats, and MORE sits in KATHERINE's
chair. She alone remains standing leaning against the corner of
the bay window, watching their faces.]

BANNING. You've seen the morning's telegrams? I tell you, Mr.
More--another reverse like that, and the flood will sweep you clean
away. And I'll not blame it. It's only flesh and blood.

MORE, Allow for the flesh and blood in me, too, please. When I spoke
the other night it was not without a certain feeling here. [He
touches his heart.]

BANNING. But your attitude's so sudden--you'd not been going that
length when you were down with us in May.

MORE. Do me the justice to remember that even then I was against our
policy. It cost me three weeks' hard struggle to make up my mind to
that speech. One comes slowly to these things, Banning.

SHELDER. Case of conscience?

MORE. Such things have happened, Shelder, even in politics.

SHELDER. You see, our ideals are naturally low--how different from
yours!

[MORE smiles.]

KATHERINE, who has drawn near her husband, moves back again, as
if relieved at this gleam of geniality. WACE rubs his hands.

BANNING. There's one thing you forget, sir. We send you to
Parliament, representing us; but you couldn't find six men in the
whole constituency that would have bidden you to make that spee