GEOFFREY. (_He is irritated at_ ANNYS’S _incursion into the discussion_.) My dear Annys, that is Nature’s law, not man’s. All man can do is to mitigate it. PEEKIN. That is all we ask. The suffering, the shame, must always be the woman’s. Surely that is sufficient. GEOFFREY. What do you propose? MISS BORLASSE. (_In her deep_, _fierce tones_.) That all children born out of wedlock should be a charge upon the rates. MISS RICKETTS. (_A slight_, _fair_, _middle-aged woman_, _with a nervous hesitating manner_.) Of course, only if the mother wishes it. GEOFFREY. (_The proposal staggers him_. _But the next moment it inspires him with mingled anger and amusement_.) My dear, good people, have you stopped for one moment to consider what the result of your proposal would be? PEEKIN. For one thing, Mr. Chilvers, the adding to the populace of healthy children in place of the stunted and diseased abortions that is all that these poor women, out of their scanty earnings, can afford to present to the State. GEOFFREY. Humph! That incidentally it would undermine the whole institution of marriage, let loose the flood-gates that at present hold immorality in check, doesn’t appear to trouble you. That the law must be altered to press less heavily upon the woman—that the man must be made an equal sharer in the penalty—all that goes without saying. The remedy you propose would be a thousand times worse than the disease. ANNYS. And meanwhile? Until you have devised this scheme (_there is a note of contempt in her voice_) under which escape for the man will be impossible? GEOFFREY. The evil must continue. As other evils have to until the true remedy is found. PEEKIN. (_He has hurriedly consulted with the others_. _All have risen—he turns to_ GEOFFREY.) You will not support our demand? GEOFFREY. Support it! Do you mean that you cannot yourselves see that you are holding out an indemnity to every profligate, male and female, throughout the land—that you would be handicapping, in the struggle for existence, every honest man and woman desirous of bringing up their children in honour and in love? Your suggestion is monstrous! PEEKIN. (_The little man is not without his dignity_.) We apologise, Mr. Chilvers, for having taken up your time. GEOFFREY. I am sorry the matter was one offering so little chance of agreement. PEEKIN. We will make only one slight further trespass on your kindness. Mrs. Chilvers, if one may judge, would seem to be more in sympathy with our views. Might we—it would be a saving of time and shoe leather (_he smiles_)—might we take this opportunity of laying our case before her? GEOFFREY. It would be useless. (_A short silence_. ANNYS, _with_ ELIZABETH _and_ PHOEBE _a little behind her_, _stands right_. LAMB, SIGSBY, _and_ ST. HERBERT _are behind_ GEOFFREY _centre_. _The_ DEPUTATION _is left_.) HOPPER. Do we gather that in this election you speak for both candidates?