But her thoughts of him were utterly pure. It was no sentimental affair cropping up in her middle age with a last desperate clutch at romance. And to strengthen the link between them stood the Cause--the cry of Woman's wrongs; the excitement of new-found power and the secret thrill of martyrdom. She had reached an impressionable age, and broken by her great sorrow--for her husband had been the love of her life--her arms went out to her suffering sisters. If only she could ease the burden, throw her failing strength into the balance, she could die with the sense of something achieved. Humbly she offered her "widow's mite." * * * * * Meanwhile in the dingy dining-room Jill had checked her love of fun. Her natural courtesy forbade an open quarrel with her mother's guest. She felt she had gone quite far enough...! Assuming a more serious air, she asked the man for information respecting the long day's work. Stephen, a little mollified by a glass of the late Colonel's port, smoking an excellent cigarette (recommended by him to Mrs. Uniacke), launched forth into description of a visit to a factory; a lengthy investigation of wages and the hours allotted to the female "hands"; while Jill sat at the end of the table, listening thoughtfully. She held as yet no settled opinions on the question of Woman's Suffrage. Undetermined, she kept herself, by McTaggart's advice, slightly aloof. Nevertheless the atmosphere of the house stimulated thought. It made life a bigger affair to picture a broader field for her sex. "You say"--she leaned her chin on her hands, her dark-fringed eyes full of light. "That the finer, more delicate work is undertaken by the women. That they do it better, are paid less ... No, it doesn't sound a bit fair!" "Ah! you begin to see," said Somerfield. "They do it too in less time. Their fingers are smaller, their work neater--in fact it's economy to employ them." "Then what do you propose?" said Jill--"to get them paid the same as men?" "Undoubtedly--or even more. It's their due--and we shall see it's _done_." "But--wait a minute. You can't make money. I mean--it's got to come from somewhere. And if the employers can't give more, I suppose ... they'll take it from the men?" She went on thoughtfully, thinking aloud. "They could level down and pay all alike. Is that the idea?" Somerfield nodded. "Well--one of them--but there are other methods." "Let's stick to the first." Jill was logical, true to the broad college training. It saved her from the common pitfall of feminine minds in argument. She could weigh the various pros and cons free from personalities. "I suppose most of the men are married?" "About two-thirds, roughly speaking."