"Two years ago," she declaimed, "women had not been treated quite so shabbily as they have been since. Then this miserable Government—"
"Look you here!" blustered Dale-Bulmer, striding out of his shyness into the center of the stage.
"Two years ago," she reiterated for his benefit, "it wasn't war to the handle of the knife! Now it would be fire and sword, if we were any good with the sword; as we are not, it's simply fire!"
"You really think you can burn your way to political power?" cried the man of extremes, with ungovernable indignation.
"Political existence is all we ask."
"As a first instalment! I know you! I come from a country where you started just like that!"
"As you told your audience the other night, if you are Mr. Dale-Bulmer," said Lady Vera, with an explosive little sigh.
"I am; and for that I'm to have a house like this burned to the ground; and you ladies think that's the way to advance your cause, to prove your value to the State! Well, I suppose you know your own business best. It's no use reasoning with you; but it really is enough to set one off, after what I caught you doing down-stairs."
"I wish to goodness you hadn't caught me," cried Lady Vera, with quite extraordinary simplicity.
But neither of them took her up; the doctor could only shake his head in professional despair, while the injured householder recovered his composure, and the little criminal looked as if she were trying not to look the mistress of the situation.