"That's just it. You can't see how it can be done, and so nothing's done. Some men get drunk, and some men get religious, and others get enthusiastic for a pound a hundred. You haven't got votes up in Queensland, and if you had you'd probably give them to a lot of ignorant politicians. Men don't know, and they don't seem to want to know much, and they've got to be squeezed by men like him"--she nodded at Strong--"before they take any interest in themselves or in those who belong to them. For those who have an ounce of heart, though, I should think there'd been squeezing enough already." She looked at Ned angrily. The scenes of the morning rose before him and tied his tongue. "How do you know all these jokers, Nellie?" he asked. He had been going to put the question a dozen times before but it had slipped him in the interest of conversation. "I only know them by sight. Mrs. Stratton takes me to the theatre with her sometimes and tells me who people are and all about them." "Who's Mrs. Stratton? You were talking of Mr. Stratton, too, just now, weren't you?" "Yes. The Strattons are very nice people, They're interested in the Labour movement, and I said I'd bring you round when I go to-night. I generally go on Saturday nights. They're not early birds, and we don't want to get there till half-past ten or so." "Half-past ten! That's queer time." "Yes, isn't it? Only----" At that moment a waitress who had been arranging the next table came and took her place against the wall close behind Nellie. Such an opportunity to talk unionism was not to be lost, so Nellie unceremoniously dropped her conversation with Ned and enquired, as before stated, into the becapped girl's hours. The waitress was tall and well-featured, but sallow of skin and growing haggard, though barely 20, if that. Below her eyes were bluish hollows. She suffered plainly from the disorders caused by constant standing and carrying, and at this end of her long week was in evident pain. * * * * * "You're not allowed to talk either?" she asked the waitress, when the manager had disappeared. "No. They're very strict. You get fined if you're seen chatting to customers and if you're caught resting. And you get fined if you break anything, too. One girl was fined six shillings last week." "Why do you stand it? If you were up in our part of the world we'd soon bring 'em down a notch or two." This from Ned. "Out in the bush it may be different," said the girl, identifying his part of the world by his dress and sunburnt face. "But in towns you've got to stand it." "Couldn't you girls form a union?" asked Nellie. "What's the use, there's plenty to take our places." "But if you were all in a union there wouldn't be enough." "Oh, we can't trust a lot of girls. Those who live at home and just work to dress themselves are the worst of the lot. They'd work for ten shillings or five."