strife-第2部分

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UNDERWOOD。　　Yes。

WILDER。　　Well；　they　haven't！　　Here　we　are；　going　from　bad　to　worse　losing　our　customersshares　going　down！

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Shaking　his　head。＇　　M'm！　　M'm！

WANKLIN。　　What　loss　have　we　made　by　this　strike；　Tench？

TENCH。　　Over　fifty　thousand；　sir！

SCANTLEBURY；　＇Pained。＇　　You　don't　say！

WILDER。　　We　shall　never　got　it　back。

TENCH。　　No；　sir。

WILDER。　　Who'd　have　supposed　the　men　were　going　to　stick　out　like　thisnobody　suggested　that。　＇Looking　angrily　at　TENCH。＇

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Shaking　his　head。＇　　I've　never　liked　a　fightnever　shall。

ANTHONY。　　No　surrender！　　＇All　look　at　him。＇

WILDER。　　Who　wants　to　surrender？　　＇ANTHONY　looks　at　him。＇　　II　want　to　act　reasonably。　　When　the　men　sent　Roberts　up　to　the　Board　in　Decemberthen　was　the　time。　　We　ought　to　have　humoured　him；　instead　of　that　the　Chairman＇Dropping　his　eyes　before　ANTHONY'S＇erwe　snapped　his　head　off。　　We　could　have　got　them　in　then　by　a　little　tact。

ANTHONY。　　No　compromise！

WILDER。　　There　we　are！　　This　strike's　been　going　on　now　since　October；　and　as　far　as　I　can　see　it　may　last　another　six　months。　Pretty　mess　we　shall　be　in　by　then。　　The　only　comfort　is；　the　men'll　be　in　a　worse！

EDGAR。　　＇To　UNDERWOOD。＇　　What　sort　of　state　are　they　really　in；　Frank？

UNDERWOOD。　　＇Without　expression。＇　　Damnable！

WILDER。　　Well；　who　on　earth　would　have　thought　they'd　have　held　on　like　this　without　support！

UNDERWOOD。　　Those　who　know　them。

WILDER。　　I　defy　any　one　to　know　them！　　And　what　about　tin？　　Price　going　up　daily。　　When　we　do　get　started　we　shall　have　to　work　off　our　contracts　at　the　top　of　the　market。

WANKLIN。　　What　do　you　say　to　that；　Chairman？

ANTHONY。　　Can't　be　helped！

WILDER。　　Shan't　pay　a　dividend　till　goodness　knows　when！

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　emphasis。＇　　We　ought　to　think　of　the　shareholders。　　＇Turning　heavily。＇　　Chairman；　I　say　we　ought　to　think　of　the　shareholders。　　＇ANTHONY　mutters。＇

SCANTLEBURY。　　What's　that？

TENCH。　　The　Chairman　says　he　is　thinking　of　you；　sir。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Sinking　back　into　torpor。＇　　Cynic！

WILDER。　　It's　past　a　joke。　　I　don't　want　to　go　without　a　dividend　for　years　if　the　Chairman　does。　　We　can't　go　on　playing　ducks　and　drakes　with　the　Company's　prosperity。

EDGAR。　　＇Rather　ashamedly。＇　　I　think　we　ought　to　consider　the　men。

　　　　　＇All　but　ANTHONY　fidget　in　their　seats。＇

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　a　sigh。＇　　We　must　n't　think　of　our　private　feelings；　young　man。　　That'll　never　do。

EDGAR。　　＇Ironically。＇　　I'm　not　thinking　of　our　feelings。　　I'm　thinking　of　the　men's。

WILDER。　　As　to　thatwe're　men　of　business。

WANKLIN。　　That　is　the　little　trouble。

EDGAR。　　There's　no　necessity　for　pushing　things　so　far　in　the　face　of　all　this　sufferingit'sit's　cruel。

　　　　　＇No　one　speaks；　as　though　EDGAR　had　uncovered　something　whose　　　　　　existence　no　man　prizing　his　self…respect　could　afford　to　　　　　　recognise。＇

WANKLIN。　　＇With　an　ironical　smile。＇　　I'm　afraid　we　must　n't　base　our　policy　on　luxuries　like　sentiment。

EDGAR。　　I　detest　this　state　of　things。

ANTHONY。　　We　did　n't　seek　the　quarrel。

EDGAR。　　I　know　that　sir；　but　surely　we've　gone　far　enough。

ANTHONY。　　No。　＇All　look　at　one　another。＇

WANKLIN。　　Luxuries　apart；　Chairman；　we　must　look　out　what　we're　doing。

ANTHONY。　　Give　way　to　the　men　once　and　there'll　be　no　end　to　it。

WANKLIN。　　I　quite　agree；　but

　　　　　＇ANTHONY　Shakes　his　head＇

You　make　it　a　question　of　bedrock　principle？

　　　　　＇ANTHONY　nods。＇

Luxuries　again；　Chairman！　　The　shares　are　below　par。

WILDER。　　Yes；　and　they'll　drop　to　a　half　when　we　pass　the　next　dividend。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　alarm。＇　　Come；　come！　　Not　so　bad　as　that。

WILDER。　　＇Grimly。＇　　You'll　see！　　＇Craning　forward　to　catch　ANTHONY'S　speech。＇　　I　didn't　catch

TENCH。　　＇Hesitating。＇　　The　Chairman　says；　sir；　Fais　quequedevra。〃

EDGAR。　　＇Sharply。＇　　My　father　says：　〃Do　what　we　oughtand　let　things　rip。〃

WILDER。　　Tcha！

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Throwing　up　his　hands。＇　　The　Chairman's　a　StoicI　always　said　the　Chairman　was　a　Stoic。

WILDER。　　Much　good　that'll　do　us。

WANKLIN。　　＇Suavely。＇　　Seriously；　Chairman；　are　you　going　to　let　the　ship　sink　under　you；　for　the　sake　ofa　principle？

ANTHONY。　　She　won't　sink。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　alarm。＇　　Not　while　I'm　on　the　Board　I　hope。

ANTHONY。　　＇With　a　twinkle。＇　　Better　rat；　Scantlebury。

SCANTLEBURY。　　What　a　man！

ANTHONY。　　I've　always　fought　them；　I've　never　been　beaten　yet。

WANKLIN。　　We're　with　you　in　theory；　Chairman。　　But　we're　not　all　made　of　cast…iron。

ANTHONY。　　We've　only　to　hold　on。

WILDER。　　＇Rising　and　going　to　the　fire。＇　　And　go　to　the　devil　as　fast　as　we　can！

ANTHONY。　　Better　go　to　the　devil　than　give　in！

WILDER。　　＇Fretfully。＇　　That　may　suit　you；　sir；　but　it　does　n't　suit　me；　or　any　one　else　I　should　think。

　　　　　＇ANTHONY　looks　him　in　the　face…a　silence。＇

EDGAR。　　I　don't　see　how　we　can　get　over　it　that　to　go　on　like　this　means　starvation　to　the　men's　wives　and　families。

　　　　　＇WILDER　turns　abruptly　to　the　fire；　and　SCANTLEBURY　puts　out　a　　　　　　hand　to　push　the　idea　away。＇

WANKLIN。　　I'm　afraid　again　that　sounds　a　little　sentimental。

EDGAR。　　Men　of　business　are　excused　from　decency；　you　think？

WILDER。　　Nobody's　more　sorry　for　the　men　than　I　am；　but　if　they　＇lashing　himself＇　　choose　to　be　such　a　pig…headed　lot；　it's　nothing　to　do　with　us；　we've　quite　enough　on　our　hands　to　think　of　ourselves　and　the　shareholders。

EDGAR。　　＇Irritably。＇　　It　won't　kill　the　shareholders　to　miss　a　dividend　or　two；　I　don't　see　that　that's　reason　enough　for　knuckling　under。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　grave　discomfort。＇　　You　talk　very　lightly　of　your　dividends；　young　man；　I　don't　know　where　we　are。

WILDER。　　There's　only　one　sound　way　of　looking　at　it。　　We　can't　go　on　ruining　ourselves　with　this　strike。

ANTHONY。　　No　caving　in！

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　a　gesture　of　despair。＇　　Look　at　him！

　　　　　＇ANTHONY'S　leaning　back　in　his　chair。　　They　do　look　at　him。＇

WILDER。　　＇Returning　to　his　seat。＇　　Well；　all　I　can　say　is；　if　that's　the　Chairman's　view；　I　don't　know　what　we've　come　down　here　for。

ANTHONY。　　To　tell　the　men　that　we've　got　nothing　for　them　＇Grimly。＇　　They　won't　believe　it　till　they　hear　it　spoken　in　plain　English。

WILDER。　　H'm！　　Shouldn't　be　a　bit　surprised　if　that　brute　Roberts　had　n't　got　us　down　here　with　the　very　same　idea。　　I　hate　a　man　with　a　grievance。

EDGAR。　　＇Resentfully。＇　　We　didn't　pay　him　enough　for　his　discovery。　I　always　said　that　at　the　time。

WILDER。　　We　paid　him　five　hundred　and　a　bonus　of　two　hundred　three　years　later。　　If　that's　not　enough！　　What　does　he　want；　for　goodness'　sake？

TENCH。　＇Complainingly。＇　　Company　made　a　hundred　thousand　out　of　his　brains；　and　paid　him　seven　hundredthat's　the　way　he　goes　on；　sir。

WILDER。　　The　man's　a　rank　agitator！　　Look　here；　I　hate　the　Unions。　But　now　we've　got　Harness　here　let's　get　him　to　settle　the　whole　thing。

ANTHONY。　　No！　＇Again　they　look　at　him。＇

UNDERWOOD。　　Roberts　won't　let　the　men　assent　to　that。

SCANTLEBURY。　　Fanatic！　　Fanatic！

WILDER。　　＇Looking　at　ANTHONY。＇　　And　not　the　only　one！　　＇FROST　enters　from　the　hall。＇

FROST。　　＇To　ANTHONY。＇　　Mr。　Harness　from　the　Union；　waiting；　sir。　　The　men　are　here　too；　sir。

　　　　　＇ANTHONY　nods。　　UNDERWOOD　goes　to　the　door；　returning　with　　　　　　HARNESS；　a　pale；　clean…shaven　man　with　hollow　cheeks；　quick　　　　　　eyes；　and　lantern　jawFROST　has　retired。＇

UNDERWOOD。　　＇Pointing　to　TENCH'S　chair。＇　　Sit　there　next　the　Chairman；　Harness；　won't　you？

　　　　　＇At　HARNESS'S　appearance；　the　Board　have　drawn　together；　as　it　　　　　　were；　and　turned　a　little　to　him；　like　cattle　at　a　dog。＇

HARNESS。　　＇With　a　sharp　look　round；　and　a　bow。＇　　Thanks！　　＇He　sits…　his　accent　is　slightly　nasal。＇　　Well；　gentlemen；　we're　going　to　do　business　at　last；　I　hope。

WILDER。　　Depends　on　what　you　call　business；　Harness。　　Why　don't　you　make　the　men　come　in？

HARNESS。　　＇Sardonically。＇　　The　men　are　far　more　in　the　right　than　you　are。　　The　question　with　us　is　whether　we　shan't　begin　to　support　them　again。

　　　　　＇He　ignores　them　all；　except　ANTHONY；　to　whom　he　turns　in　　　　　　speaking。＇

ANTHONY。　　Support　them　if　you　like；　we'll　put　in　free　labour　and　have　done　with　it。

HARNESS。　　That　won't　do；　Mr。　Anthony。　　You　can't　get　free　labour；　and　you　know　it。

ANTHONY。　　We　shall　see　that。

HARNESS。　　I'm　quite　frank　with　you。　　We　were　forced　to　withhold　our　support　from　your　men　because　some　of　their　demands　are　in　excess　of　current　rates。　　I　expect　to　make　them　withdraw　those　demands　to…day：　if　they　do；　take　it　straight　from　me；　gentlemen；　we　shall　back　them　again　at　once。　　Now；　I　want　to　see　something　fixed　upon　before　I　go　back　to…night。　　Can't　we　have　done　with　this　old…fashioned　tug…of…war　business？　　What　good's　it　doing　you？　　Why　don't　you　recognise　once　for　all　that　these　people　are　men　like　yourselves；　and　want　what's　good　for　them　just　as　you　want　what's　good　for　you　＇Bitterly。＇　　Your　motor…cars；　and　champagne；　and　eight…course　dinners。

ANTHONY。　　If　the　men　will　come　in；　we'll　do　something　for　them。

HARNESS。　　＇Ironically。＇　　Is　that　your　opinion　too；　sirand　yours　and　yours？　　＇The　Directors　do　not　answer。＇　　Well；　all　I　can　say　is：　It's　a　kind　of　high　and　mighty　aristocratic　tone　I　thought　we'd　grown　out　ofseems　I　was　mistaken。

ANTHONY。　　It's　the　tone　the　men　use。　　Remains　to　be　seen　which　can　hold　out　longestthey　without　us；　or　we　without　them。

HARNESS。　　As　business　men；　I　wonder　you're　not　ashamed　of　this　waste　of　force；　gentlemen。　　You　know　what　it'll　all　end　in。

ANTHONY。　　What？

HARNESS。　　Compromiseit　always　does。

SCANTLEBURY。　　Can't　you　persuade　the　men　that　their　interests　are　the　same　as　ours？

HARNESS。　＇Turning；　ironically。＇　　I　could　persuade　them　of　that；　sir；　if　they　were。

WILDER。　　Come；　Harness；　you're　a　clever　man；　you　don't　believe　all　the　Socialistic　claptrap　that's　talked　nowadays。　　There　's　no　real　difference　between　their　interests　and　ours。

HARNESS。　　There's　just　one　very　simple　question　I'd　like　to　put　to　you。　　Will　you　pay　your　men　one　penny　more　than　they　force　you　to　pay　them？

　　　　　＇WILDER　is　silent。＇

WANKLIN。　　＇Chiming　in。＇　　I　humbly　thought　that　not　to　pay　more　than　was　necessary　was　the　A　B　C　of　commerce。

HARNESS。　　＇With　irony。＇　　Yes；　that　seems　to　be　the　A　B　C　of　commerce；　sir