TUPIN. It’s not we who are guilty!
SCHOOLMISTRESS. I was afraid of getting a bad name. We hadn’t the means, either, to bring up another.
MME. TUPIN [greatly worked up] So that’s it! So that’s all the children that we bring up get by it! What’s the use of talking? The men haven’t thought of changing it—well then, we must do it! We women! We must strike! We—the mothers! The great strike—the strike of the mothers!
Cries among the public, ‘Yes, yes.’
PRESIDENT. Silence!
MME. TUPIN. What’s the good of using ourselves up to make more wretched men and gay women! For others to use!
TUPIN. It’s not we that are guilty!
PRESIDENT. Sit down!
TUPIN [drowning his voice] It’s the men who’ve not given us enough to feed our children that are guilty!