"Aye, that's just what it is, Laurence," said the ex-soldier with equal anger. "And I _am_ proud of it. I'm proud that I did my bit for England--for England's ours, too, as well as the capitalists', and the war was our war, the war of the crowd of us--and we went out and risked our lives while you and your cowardly kind stayed at home and helped the enemy all you could. That's your patriotism! And now to hear you talk one would think England was an enemy country! I tell you it's our country as much as anybody's and our war that we fought for it! The red on this medal ribbon is the red of the blood of the chaps that died for it if you like--and I'm mighty proud to wear it. And, by God, Laurence, while I'm the leader of these poor chaps I won't have any traitor talk--is that clear?" "Your country!" the other laughed bitterly. "What right have you got to a ha'porth of it?--you, who are being chucked out into the street--you, who haven't even the right to demand work and earn your bread! Bah! Militarism has rotted the soul of you!" "It taught me to know a true man when I see him, anyway, Laurence--and you're none o' that kind! You, poisoning the minds of starving men----" "And who keeps 'em starving? Who prevents 'em from helping themselves in the nearest baker's shop----" "Now, lads--now, lads!" intervened the third man, a thick-set fellow in black coat and turned-up trousers over yellow boots. A smug self-confidence was native to his podgy countenance, was the complement of the cunning, scheming eyes. "There's no use quarrelling. What we've got to do is to 'elp each other--we working-men. The Union's _bust_, Jim, an' that's the fact of it--an' if Mr. Laurence's organization 'ere can't give us a 'and--well, I don't know what'll happen. This last trick of 'Athaway's, chucking the whole street out o' doors, fairly puts the lid on it!" There was silence in the room and Jim glanced round at the haggard visage of his wife, bending, with tears on her cheeks, over the whimpering child. "Yes, look!" said the tall man. "That's what you fought for, my lad!" Jim did not reply. He pressed his hand to his brow as though his brain reeled. The Trade Union leader tried to profit by his silence. "We're properly up against it--there's no dodging it. Mind you, Jim, I think there's a lot of reason in what Mr. Laurence says." Ann stood up quickly and faced her husband. "Jim!" she said, and her voice was firm though her chest heaved with weakness. "You'll do what's right--whatever 'appens!" Laurence spoke again. "We're perfectly ready to help--but this is the last time of offering. You know the terms. You're responsible for a good many hundreds of starving families, Swain--they mayn't listen to you much longer, don't forget----"