Miss L. (with a faint smile). "Friends!"
Jean. Why do you say it like that?
Miss L. Perhaps because I was thinking of a funny story—he said it was funny—a Liberal Whip told me the other day. A Radical Member went out of the House after his speech in favour of the Woman's Bill, and as he came back half an hour later, he heard some Members talking in the Lobby about the astonishing number who were going to vote for the measure. And the Friend of Woman dropped his jaw and clutched the man next him: "My God!" he said, "you don't mean to say they're going to give it to them!"
Jean. Oh!
Mrs. F. You don't think all men in Parliament are like that!
Miss L. I don't think all men are burglars, but I lock my doors.
Jean (below her breath). You think that night of the scene—you think the men didn't mean to play fair?
Miss L. (her coolness in contrast to the excitement of the others). Didn't the women sit quiet till ten minutes to closing time?
Jean. Ten minutes to settle a question like that!
Miss L. (quietly to Mrs. Freddy). Couldn't you see the men were at their old game?