"Gentlemen," said Mr. Todd, lighting his pipe, "afore we get on to the business of this meeting I want to remind you that there is another meeting, of ladies, at four o'clock; so we've got to hurry up. O' course, if it should happen that we ain't finished——"
"Go on, Bennie!" said a delighted admirer. "I see a female 'ead peeping in at the winder already," said a voice.
"Let 'em peep," said Mr. Todd, benignly. "Then p'r'aps they'll be able to see how to run a meeting."
"There's two more 'eads," said the other. "Oh, Lord, I know I sha'n't be able to keep a straight face!"
"H'sh!" commanded Mr. Todd, sternly, as the street-door was heard to open. "Be'ave yourself. As I was saying, the thing we've got to consider about this strike——"
The door opened, and six ladies, headed by Mrs. Porter, entered the room in single file and ranged themselves silently along the wall.
"Strike," proceeded Mr. Todd, who found himself gazing uneasily into the eyes of Mrs. Gorman——"strike—er—strike——"
"He said that before," said a stout lady, in a loud whisper; "I'm sure he did."
"Is," continued Mr. Todd, "that we have got to keep this—this—er—"
"Strike," prompted the same voice.