[_She stands down, having made the speech of the afternoon,
and is rewarded by approving cries of "Good old girl!" An
employer of labour is next introduced, and received at first
with suspicion, until he explains that he is heart and soul
with them, that he does not dread the application of the
Factory Acts to his own establishment, and considers that it
would be an excellent thing if all the smaller laundries were
closed to-morrow, whereupon the ladies habitually employed in
these places cheer him heartily._

_A Common-Sense Speaker_. It's all very well for you to come 'ere and
protest against the laundresses workin' too long hours, but I tell yer
_this_--it's yer own fault, it's the Public's fault. You _will_ 'ave
yer clean shirts and collars sent 'ome every week! (_Several of the
unwashed betray that this thrust has gone home._) A fortnight ain't a
_bit_ too long to wait for your linen! (_Unanimous and hearty assent
by people in dingy flannels._) And if some o' these swells and
aristocrats weren't so partickler, and didn't send so much linen
to the wash as they do, why, it stands to reason as the hours the
washerwomen 'ud work 'ud be shorter!

[_Chorus of agreement; sudden unpopularity--especially, oddly
enough, with lighthearted young laundresses--of persons
in the crowd whose collars are at all aggressive in their
cleanliness; universal feeling that the blame has been fitted
upon the right shoulders at last. More speeches; simultaneous
passing of Resolution; the Processions march away with colours
flying and bands playing, and, if they have succeeded in
advancing the true interests of labour, no one will be more