A kind of shyness came over the woman on the sofa; she dropped her eyes from the other's face.
'Of course,' the ex-prisoner went on, 'if more women did a little it wouldn't be necessary for the few to do so much.'
'I suppose you are in need of funds to carry on the propaganda.'
'Money isn't what is most needed. One of our workers—a little mill girl—came up from the country with only two pounds in her pocket to rouse London. And she did it!' her comrade exulted. 'But there's a class we don't reach. If only'—she hesitated and glanced reflectively at the woman before her.
'Yes?' Miss Levering's eye flew to the cheque-book.
'If only we could get women of influence to understand what's at stake,' said Miss Claxton, a little wistfully.
'They don't?'
'Oh, some. A few. As much as can be expected.'
'Why do you say that?'
'Well, the upper-class women, I don't say all' (she spoke as one exercising an extreme moderation); 'but many of them are such sexless creatures.'