'If you cared to know the attitude of the real workers in the Reform,' Mrs. Freddy said plaintively, 'you might have seen in any paper that we lost no time in dissociating ourselves from the two or three hysterical----' She caught her brother-in-law's critical eye, and instantly checked her flow of words.
There was a general movement as Greatorex made his good-byes. Mrs. Heriot signalled her daughter.
In the absence of the master, Lord Borrodaile made ready to do the honours of the house to a lady who had had so little profit of her visit. Beeching carried off the reluctant Farnborough. Mrs. Freddy kept up her spirits until after the exodus; then, with a sigh, she sat down beside Vida. 'It's true what that old cynic says,' she admitted sorrowfully. 'The scene has put back the Reform a generation.'
'It must have been awfully exciting. I wish I'd been there,' said Jean.
'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 woman. Another five minutes and the resolution would have passed. Then--all in a moment'--Mrs. Freddy clasped her hands 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----' She jumped up and walked to and fro. 'Then the next morning!' She paused. 'The people gloating. Our friends antagonized--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 like it. It makes him shy. I'm sure it gives him a horrid twist inside when he sees even the discreetest little paragraph to say that I am "one of the speakers." 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."'
'To think,' said Jean, more sympathetically, 'that it should be women who've given their own scheme the worst blow it ever had!'