"Charity? Not for me! I don't want you to think of me! I want you to think of what this strike means!"
Then some one muttered:
"We've listened long enough to Izon."
And another: "I'm going to work!"
"So am I! So am I!"
They began to rise, to shamefacedly shamble toward the door. Izon rose to his feet, tried to intercept them, stretched out his arms to them.
"For God's sake," he cried, "leave me out, but get something. Don't go back like this! Get something! Don't you see that Marrin is ready to give in? Are you going back like weak slaves?"
They did not heed him; but one old man paused and put a hand on his shoulder.
"This will teach you not to be so rash next time. You will learn yet."
And they were gone. Izon was dazed, heart-broken. He hurried home to his wife and wept upon her shoulder.