JEAN (_over_ MISS LEVERING'S _shoulder, whispers_). _Say_ something. MISS L. (_to_ GREATOREX, _smiling_). Oh no, that wasn't the worst mistake. GREAT. Yes, it was. MISS L. No. Believe me. The mistake was in letting women learn to talk. GREAT. _Ah!_ (_Wheels about with sudden rapture._) I see now what's to be the next great reform. MISS L. (_holding up the little volume_). When women are all dumb, no more discussions of the "Paradiso." GREAT. (_with a gesture of mock rapture_). The thing itself! (_Aside._) That's a great deal better than talking about it, as I'm sure _you_ know. MISS L. Why do you think I know? GREAT. Only the plain women are in any doubt. (JEAN _joins_ MISS LEVERING.) GREAT. Wait for me, Farnborough. I cannot go about unprotected. [_Exeunt_ FARNBOROUGH _and_ GREATOREX. MRS. F. It's true what that old cynic says. The scene in the House has put back the reform a generation. JEAN. I wish 'd been there. MRS. F. I _was_. JEAN. Oh, was it like the papers said? MRS. F. Worse. I've never been so moved in public. No tragedy, no great opera ever gripped an audience as the situation in the House did that night. There we all sat breathless--with everything more favourable to us than it had been within the memory of women. Another five minutes and the Resolution would have passed. Then ... all in a moment---- LADY JOHN (_to_ MRS. HERIOT). Listen--they're talking about the female hooligans. MRS. H. No, thank you! (_Sits apart with the "Church Times."_) MRS. F. (_excitedly_). All in a moment a horrible dingy little flag was poked through the grille of the Woman's Gallery--cries--insults--scuffling--the police--the ignominious turning out of the women--_us_ as well as the---- Oh, I can't _think_ of it without---- (_Jumps up and walks to and fro._) (_Pauses._) Then the next morning! The people gloating. Our friends antagonised--people who were wavering--nearly won over--all thrown back--heart breaking! Even my husband! Freddy's been an angel about letting me take my share when I felt I must--but of course I've always known he doesn't really like it. It makes him shy. I'm sure it gives him a horrid twist inside when he sees my name among the speakers on the placards. But he's always been an angel about it before this. After the disgraceful scene he said, "It just shows how unfit women are for any sort of coherent thinking or concerted action." JEAN. To think that it should be women who've given the Cause the worst blow it ever had! MRS. F. The work of forty years destroyed in five minutes! JEAN. They must have felt pretty sick when they woke up the next morning--the Suffragettes. MRS. F. I don't waste any sympathy on _them_. I'm thinking of the penalty _all_ women have to pay because a handful of hysterical---- JEAN. Still I think I'm sorry for them. It must be dreadful to find you've done such a lot of harm to the thing you care most about in the world.