The spokesman of the employees was a lean man, somewhat wolfish, with an eye that moved too much. He seemed a talker rather than a doer, with something of the actor showing as he stood by the door and folded his arms. He spoke with an important air; no voice, Judith thought, can be impressive if it is not clear.
"I've come to say, sir, that we're dissatisfied."
"That means," asked Mather, quietly and without rising, "that you are dissatisfied?"
The man cleared his throat, but still a characteristic huskiness remained. "Yes, sir, I am."
"Very well," was the response, and the manager turned to the stenographer. "Miss Jenks, make out a bill of this man's time."
Beth clutched Judith by the sleeve and sought to draw her away. Judith stood still; not for anything would she have lost the sight of those two men as they watched each other.
"You discharge me?" cried the workman with excitement.
"You discharged yourself," answered Mather steadily. "I can't have a man here who is dissatisfied."
"My grievances——" began the other.
Mather cut him short. "Grievance is a word that doesn't apply. You knew the conditions of work when you came; I have changed none of them."