GERALD. Not much. ANABEL. Why?--You seem to dislike very easily. GERALD. Oh, they all used to try to snub me, these old buffers. They detest me like poison, because I am different from father. ANABEL. I believe you enjoy being detested. GERALD. I do. (Another clerk approaches--hesitates--stops.) CLERK. Good evening, sir. Good evening, Mr. Barlow. Er--did you want anybody at the office, sir? We're just closing. GERALD. No, I didn't want anybody. CLERK. Oh, no, sir. I see. Er--by the way, sir--er--I hope you don't think this--er--bother about an increase--this strike threat--started in the office? GERALD. Where did it start? CLERK. I should think it started--where it usually starts, Mr. Barlow--among a few loud-mouthed people who think they can do as they like with the men. They're only using the office men as a cry--They've no interest in us. They want to show their power.--That's how it is, sir. GERALD. Oh, yes. CLERK. We're powerless, if they like to make a cry out of us. GERALD. Quite. CLERK. We're as much put out about it as anybody. GERALD. Of course. CLERK. Yes--well--good night, sir. (Clerks draw near--there is a sound of loud young voices and bicycle bells. Bicycles sweep past.) CLERKS. Good night, sir.--Good night, sir. GERALD. Good night.--They're very bucked to see me sitting here with a woman--a young lady as they'll say. I guess your name will be flying round to-morrow. They stop partly to have a good look at you. Do they know you, do you think? ANABEL. Sure. CLERKS. Mr. Breffitt's just coming, sir.--Good night, sir.--Good night, sir. (Another bicycle passes.) ANABEL. The bicycles don't see us.--Isn't it rather hateful to be a master? The attitude of them all is so ugly. I can quite see that it makes you rather a bully. GERALD. I suppose it does. (Figure of a large man approaches.) BREFFITT. Oh--ah--it's Mr. Gerald!--I couldn't make out who it was.--Were you coming up to the office, sir? Do you want me to go back with you? GERALD. No, thank you--I just wanted a word with you about this agitation. It'll do just as well here. It's a pity it started--that the office should have set it going, Breffitt. BREFFITT. It's none of the office's doing, I think you'll find, Mr. Gerald. The office men did nothing but ask for a just advance--at any rate, time and prices being what they are, I consider it a fair advance. If the men took it up, it's because they've got a set of loud-mouthed blatherers and agitators among them like Job Arthur Freer, who deserve to be hung--and hanging they'd get, if I could have the judging of them. GERALD. Well--it's very unfortunate--because we can't give the clerks their increase now, you know. BREFFITT. Can't you?--can't you? I can't see that it would be anything out of the way, if I say what I think. GERALD. No. They won't get any increase now. It shouldn't have been allowed to become a public cry with the colliers. We can't give in now. BREFFITT. Have the Board decided that?