[He sits motionless, staring before him.The Board draws hurriedly together, and forms a group.TENCH in a frightened manner speaks into the hall.UNDERWOOD almost forces ENID from the room.]
WILDER.[Hurriedly.] What's to be said to them? Why isn't Harness here? Ought we to see the men before he comes? I don't----TENCH.Will you come in, please?
[Enter THOMAS, GREEN, BULGIN, and ROUS, who file up in a row past the little table.TENCH sits down and writes.All eyes are foxed on ANTHONY, who makes no sign.]
WANKLIN.[Stepping up to the little table, with nervous cordiality.]
Well, Thomas, how's it to be? What's the result of your meeting?
ROUS.Sim Harness has our answer.He'll tell you what it is.We're waiting for him.He'll speak for us.
WANKLIN.Is that so, Thomas?
THOMAS.[Sullenly.] Yes.Roberts will not pe coming, his wife is dead.
SCANTLEBURY.Yes, yes! Poor woman! Yes! Yes!
FROST.[Entering from the hall.] Mr.Harness, Sir!
[As HARNESS enters he retires.]
[HARNESS has a piece of paper in his hand, he bows to the Directors, nods towards the men, and takes his stand behind the little table in the very centre of the room.]
HARNESS.Good evening, gentlemen.
[TENCH, with the paper he has been writing, joins him, they speak together in low tones.]
WILDER.We've been waiting for you, Harness.Hope we shall come to some----FROST.[Entering from the hall.] Roberts!
[He goes.]
[ROBERTS comes hastily in, and stands staring at ANTHONY.His face is drawn and old.]
ROBERTS.Mr.Anthony, I am afraid I am a little late, I would have been here in time but for something that--has happened.[To the men.] Has anything been said?
THOMAS.No! But, man, what made ye come?
ROBERTS.Ye told us this morning, gentlemen, to go away and reconsider our position.We have reconsidered it; we are here to bring you the men's answer.[To ANTHONY.] Go ye back to London.We have nothing for you.By no jot or tittle do we abate our demands, nor will we until the whole of those demands are yielded.
[ANTHONY looks at him but does not speak.There is a movement amongst the men as though they were bewildered.]
HARNESS.Roberts!
ROBERTS.[Glancing fiercely at him, and back to ANTHONY.] Is that clear enough for ye? Is it short enough and to the point? Ye made a mistake to think that we would come to heel.Ye may break the body, but ye cannot break the spirit.Get back to London, the men have nothing for ye?
[Pausing uneasily he takes a step towards the unmoving ANTHONY.]
EDGAR.We're all sorry for you, Roberts, but----ROBERTS.Keep your sorrow, young man.Let your father speak!
HARNESS.[With the sheet of paper in his hand, speaking from behind the little table.] Roberts!
ROBERT.[TO ANTHONY, with passionate intensity.] Why don't ye answer?
HARNESS.Roberts!
ROBERTS.[Turning sharply.] What is it?
HARNESS.[Gravely.] You're talking without the book; things have travelled past you.
[He makes a sign to TENCH, who beckons the Directors.They quickly sign his copy of the terms.]
Look at this, man! [Holding up his sheet of paper.] "Demands conceded, with the exception of those relating to the engineers and furnace-men.Double wages for Saturday's overtime.Night-shifts as they are." These terms have been agreed.The men go back to work again to-morrow.The strike is at an end.
ROBERTS.[Reading the paper, and turning on the men.They shrink back from him, all but ROUS, who stands his ground.With deadly stillness.] Ye have gone back on me? I stood by ye to the death; ye waited for that to throw me over!
[The men answer, all speaking together.]
