As Gorringe seemed to be the only one who had observed the overclouding of the sky, so she seemed to be the only one to think it mattered much. But one by one, like some species of enormous black 'four-o-clocks,' umbrellas blossomed above the undergrowth at the foot of the monument. The lady of the purple plumes had long vanished. A few others moved off, head turned over shoulder, as if doubtful of the policy of leaving while Ernestine was explaining things. The great majority turned up their coat collars and stood their ground. The maid hurriedly produced an umbrella and held it over the lady. ''Igher up, please, miss! Caun't see,' said a youth behind. Nothing cloudy about Ernestine's policy: Independence of all parties, and organized opposition to whatever Government was in power, until something was done to prove it that friend to women it pretended to be. 'We are tired of being lied to and cheated. There isn't a man in the world whose promise at election time I would trust!' It struck some common chord in the gathering. They roared with appreciation, partly to hear that baby saying it. 'No, not one!' she repeated stoutly, taking the raindrops in her face, while the risen wind tugged at her wide hat. 'They'll promise us heaven, and earth, and the moon, and the stars, just to get our help. Oh, we are old hands at it now, and we can see through the game!' 'Old 'and _she_ is! Ha! ha! Old 'and!' 'Do they let you sit up for supper?' 'We are going to every contested election from this on.' 'Lord, yes! Rain or shine _they_ don't mind!' 'They'll find they'll always have us to reckon with. And we aren't _the least bit_ impressed any more, when a candidate tells us he's in favour of Woman's Suffrage. We say, "Oh, we've got four hundred and twenty of your kind already!"' 'Oh! oh!' 'Haw! haw!' 'Oo did you say that to?' By name she held up to scorn the candidates who had given every reason for the general belief that they were indifferent, if not opposed, to Woman's Suffrage till the moment came for contesting a seat. 'Then when they find us there (we hear it keeps them awake at night, thinking we always _will_ be there in future!)--when they find us there, they hold up their little white flags. Yes. And they say, "Oh, but I'm in favour of Votes for Women!" We just smile.' The damp gathering in front of her hallooed. 'Yes. And when they protest what splendid friends of the Suffrage they are, we say, "You don't care twopence about it. You are like the humbugs who are there in the House of Commons already."' 'Humbugs!' 'Calls 'em 'umbugs to their fyces! Haw! haw!' Roars and booing filled the air. 'We know, for many of us helped to put them there. But that was before we knew any better. _Never again!_' Once more that wise little wag of the head, while the people shrieked with laughter. It was highly refreshing to think those Government blokes couldn't take in Ernestine.