MISS L. (_catching her fluttering breath, goes on very low_.)--in that great agony when, even under the best conditions that money and devotion can buy, many a woman falls into temporary mania, and not a few go down to death. In the case of this poor little abandoned working girl, what man can be the fit judge of her deeds in that awful moment of half-crazed temptation? Women know of these things as those know burning who have walked through fire. (STONOR _makes a motion towards_ JEAN _and she turns away fronting the audience. Her hands go up to her throat as though she suffered a choking sensation. It is in her face that she "knows."_ MISS LEVERING _leans over the platform and speaks with a low and thrilling earnestness._) I would say in conclusion to the women here, it's not enough to be sorry for these our unfortunate sisters. We must get the conditions of life made fairer. We women must organise. We must learn to work together. We have all (rich and poor, happy and unhappy) worked so long and so exclusively for _men_, we hardly know how to work for one another. But we must learn. Those who can, may give money---- VOICES (_grumbling_). Oh, yes--Money! Money! MISS L. Those who haven't pennies to give--even those people aren't so poor they can't give some part of their labour--some share of their sympathy and support. (_Turns to hear something the_ CHAIRMAN _is whispering to her._) JEAN (_low to_ LADY JOHN). Oh, I'm glad I've got power! LADY JOHN (_bewildered_). Power!--_you?_ JEAN. Yes, all that money---- (LADY JOHN _tries to make her way to_ STONOR.) MISS L. (_suddenly turning from the_ CHAIRMAN _to the crowd_). Oh, yes, I hope you'll all join the Union. Come up after the meeting and give your names. LOUD VOICE. You won't get many men. MISS L. (_with fire_). Then it's to the women I appeal! (_She is about to retire when, with a sudden gleam in her lit eyes, she turns for the last time to the crowd, silencing the general murmur and holding the people by the sudden concentration of passion in her face._) I don't mean to say it wouldn't be better if men and women did this work together--shoulder to shoulder. But the mass of men won't have it so. I only hope they'll realise in time the good they've renounced and the spirit they've aroused. For I know as well as any man could tell me, it would be a bad day for England if all women felt about all men _as I do_. (_She retires in a tumult. The others on the platform close about her. The_ CHAIRMAN _tries in vain to get a hearing from the excited crowd._) (JEAN _tries to make her way through the knot of people surging round her._) STONOR (_calls_). Here!--Follow me! JEAN. No--no--I---- STONOR. You're going the wrong way. JEAN. _This_ is the way I must go. STONOR. You can get out quicker on this side. JEAN. I don't _want_ to get out. STONOR. What! Where are you going?