GREAT. (_with a quizzical affectation of gallantry_). Not people like you. MISS L. (_teasingly_). How do you know? GREAT. (_with a start_). God bless my soul! LORD J. She's saying that only to get a rise out of you. GREAT. Ah, yes, your frocks aren't serious enough. MISS L. I'm told it's an exploded notion that the Suffrage women are all dowdy and dull. GREAT. Don't you believe it! MISS L. Well, of course we know you've been an authority on the subject for--let's see, how many years is it you've kept the House in roars whenever Woman's Rights are mentioned? GREAT. (_flattered but not entirely comfortable_). Oh, as long as I've known anything about politics there have been a few discontented old maids and hungry widows---- MISS L. "A few!" That's really rather forbearing of you, Mr. Greatorex. I'm afraid the number of the discontented and the hungry was 96,000--among the mill operatives alone. (_Hastily._) At least the papers said so, didn't they? GREAT. Oh, don't ask me; that kind of woman doesn't interest me, I'm afraid. Only I am able to point out to the people who lose their heads and seem inclined to treat the phenomenon seriously that there's absolutely nothing new in it. There have been women for the last forty years who haven't had anything more pressing to do than petition Parliament. MISS L. (_reflectively_). And that's as far as they've got. LORD J. (_turning on his heel_). It's as far as they'll ever get. (_Meets the group up_ R. _coming down._) MISS L. (_chaffing_ GREATOREX). Let me see, wasn't a deputation sent to you not long ago? (_Sits_ C.) GREAT. H'm! (_Irritably._) Yes, yes. MISS L. (_as though she has just recalled the circumstances_). Oh, yes, I remember. I thought at the time, in my modest way, it was nothing short of heroic of them to go asking audience of their arch opponent. GREAT. (_stoutly_). It didn't come off. MISS L. (_innocently_). Oh! I thought they insisted on bearding the lion in his den. GREAT. Of course I wasn't going to be bothered with a lot of---- MISS L. You don't mean you refused to go out and face them! GREAT. (_with a comic look of terror_). I wouldn't have done it for worlds. But a friend of mine went and had a look at 'em. MISS L. (_smiling_). Well, did he get back alive? GREAT. Yes, but he advised me not to go. "You're quite right," he said. "Don't you think of bothering," he said. "I've looked over the lot," he said, "and there isn't a week-ender among 'em." JEAN (_gaily precipitates herself into the conversation_). You remember Mrs. Freddy's friend who came to tea here in the winter? (_To_ GREATOREX.) He was a member of Parliament too--quite a little young one--he said women would never be respected till they had the vote! (GREATOREX _snorts, the other men smile and all the women except_ MRS. HERIOT.) MRS. H. (_sniffing_). I remember telling him that he was too young to know what he was talking about.