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to restore in her a sense of humour and proportion； and her feeling
became one of curiosity concerning this exquisitely soigneed being of an
order she had read about； but never encounteredan order which her newly
acquired views declared to be usurpers and parasites。 But despite her
palpable effort to be gracious perhaps because of itMrs。 Brocklehurst
had an air about her that was disconcerting！ Janet； however； seemed
composed as she sat down。
〃I'm afraid I don't know very much。 Maybe you will tell me something；
first。〃
〃Why； certainly；〃 said Mrs。 Brocklehurst； sweetly when she had got her
breath。
〃Who is that man？〃 Janet asked。
〃Whom do you meanMr。 Insall？〃
〃Is that his name？ I didn't know。 I've seen him twice； but he never
told me。〃
〃Why； my dear； do you mean to say you haven't heard of Brooks Insall？〃
〃Brooks Insall。〃 Janet repeated the name； as her eyes sought his figure
between the tables。 〃No。〃
〃I'm sure I don't know why I should have expected you to hear of him；〃
declared the lady； repentantly。 〃He's a writeran author。〃 And at this
Janet gave a slight exclamation of pleasure and surprise。 〃You admire
writers？ He's done some delightful things。〃
〃What does he write about？〃 Janet asked。
〃Oh； wild flowers and trees and mountains and streams； and birds and
humanshe has a wonderful insight into people。〃
Janet was silent。 She was experiencing a swift twinge of jealousy； of
that familiar rebellion against her limitations。
〃You must read them； my dear；〃 Mrs。 Brocklehurst continued softly； in
musical tones。 〃They are wonderful； they have such distinction。 He's
walked； I'm told； over every foot of New England； talking to the farmers
and their wives andall sorts of people。〃 She； too； paused to let her
gaze linger upon Insall laughing and chatting with the children as they
ate。 〃He has such a splendid； ‘out…door' look don't you think？ And he's
clever with his hands he bought an old abandoned farmhouse in Silliston
and made it all over himself until it looks as if one of our great…great…
grandfathers had just stepped out of it to shoot an Indian only much
prettier。 And his garden is a dream。 It's the most unique place I've
ever known。〃
Janet blushed deeply as she recalled how she had mistaken him for a
carpenter： she was confused； overwhelmed； she had a sudden longing to
leave the place； to be alone； to think about this discovery。 Yet she
wished to know more。
〃But how did he happen to come here to Hamptonto be doing this？〃 she
asked。
〃Well； that's just what makes him interesting； one never can tell what
he'll do。 He took it into his head to collect the money to feed these
children； I suppose he gave much of it himself。 He has an income of his
own； though he likes to live so simply。〃
〃This placeit's not connected with any organization？〃 Janet ejaculated。
〃That's the trouble； he doesn't like organizations； and he doesn't seem
to take any interest in the questions or movements of the day；〃 Mrs。
Brocklehurst complained。 〃Or at least he refuses to talk about them；
though I've known him for many years； and his people and mine were
friends。 Now there are lots of things I want to learn； that I came up
from New York to find out。 I thought of course he'd introduce me to the
strike leaders； and he tells me he doesn't know one of them。 Perhaps you
know them；〃 she added； with sudden inspiration。
〃I'm only an employee at Strike Headquarters；〃 Janet replied； stiffening
a little despite the lady's importuning lookwhich evidently was usually
effective。
〃You mean the I。W。W。？〃
〃Yes。〃
Meanwhile Insall had come up and seated himself below them on the edge of
the platform。
〃Oh； Brooks； your friend Miss Bumpus is employed in the Strike
Headquarters！〃 Mrs。 Brocklehurst cried； and turning to Janet she went on。
〃I didn't realize you were a factory girl； I must say you don't look it。〃
Once more a gleam of amusement from Insall saved Janet； had the effect of
compelling her to meet the affair somewhat after his own manner。 He
seemed to be putting the words into her mouth； and she even smiled a
little； as she spoke。
〃You never can tell what factory girls do look like in these days；〃 she
observed mischievously。
〃That's so；〃 Mrs。 Brocklehurst agreed； 〃we are living in such
extraordinary times； everything topsy turvy。 I ought to have realized
it was stupid of meI know several factory girls in New York； I've been
to their meetings； I've had them at my houseshirtwaist strikers。〃
She assumed again the willowy； a position； her fingers clasped across her
knee； her eyes supplicatingly raised to Janet。 Then she reached out her
hand and touched the I。W。W。 button。 〃Do tell me all about the
Industrial Workers； and what they believe；〃 she pleaded。
〃Well；〃 said Janet； after a slight pause； 〃I'm afraid you won't like it
much。 Why do you want to know？〃
〃Because I'm so interestedespecially in the women of the movement。 I
feel for them so； I want to helpto do something； too。 Of course you're
a suffragist。〃
〃You mean； do I believe in votes for women？ Yes； I suppose I do。〃
〃But you must；〃 declared Mrs。 Brocklehurst； still sweetly； but with
emphasis。 〃You wouldn't be working； you wouldn't be striking unless you
did。〃
〃I've never thought about it；〃 said Janet。
〃But how are you working girls ever going to raise wages unless you get
the vote？ It's the only way men ever get anywherethe politicians
listen to them。〃 She produced from her bag a gold pencil and a tablet。
〃Mrs。 Ned Carfax is here from BostonI saw her for a moment at the hotel
she's been here investigating for nearly three days； she tells me。 I'll
have her send you suffrage literature at once； if you'll give me your
address。〃
〃You want a vote？〃 asked Janet； curiously； gazing at the pearl earrings。
〃Certainly I want one。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Why？〃 repeated Mrs。 Brocklehurst。
〃Yes。 You must have everything you want。〃
Even then the lady's sweet reasonableness did not desert her。 She smiled
winningly； displaying two small and even rows of teeth。
〃On principle； my dear。 For one reason； because I have such sympathy
with women who toil； and for another； I believe the time has come when
women must no longer be slaves； they must assert themselves； become
individuals； independent。〃
〃But you？〃 exclaimed Janet。
Mrs。 Brocklehurst continued to smile encouragingly； and murmured 〃Yes？〃
〃You are not a slave。〃
A delicate pink； like the inside of a conch shell； spread over Mrs。
Brocklehurst's cheeks。
〃We're all slaves；〃 she declared with a touch of passion。 〃It's hard for
you to realize； I know； about those of us who seem more fortunate than
our sisters。 But it's true。 The men give us jewels and automobiles and
clothes； but they refuse to give us what every real woman craves
liberty。〃
Janet had become genuinely interested。
〃But what kind of liberty？〃
〃Liberty to have a voice； to take part in the government of our country；
to help make the laws； especially those concerning working…women and
children； what they ought to be。〃
Here was altruism； truly！ Here were words that should have inspired
Janet； yet she was silent。 Mrs。 Brocklehurst gazed at her solicitously。
〃What are you thinking？〃 she urgedand it was Janet's turn to flush。
〃I was just thinking that you seemed to have everything life has to give；
and yetand yet you're not happy。〃
〃Oh； I'm not unhappy；〃 protested the lady。 〃Why do you say that？〃
〃I don't know。 You； too； seem to be wanting something。〃
〃I want to be of use； to count；〃 said Mrs。 Brocklehurst；and Janet was
startled to hear from this woman's lips the very echo of her own desires。
Mrs。 Brocklehurst's feelings had become slightly complicated。 It is
perhaps too much to say that her complacency was shaken。 She was；
withal； a person of resolutionof resolution taking the form of
unswerving faith in herself； a faith persisting even when she was being
carried beyond her depth。 She had the kind of pertinacity that sever
admits being out of depth； the happy buoyancy that does not require to
feel the bottom under one's feet。 She floated in swift currents。 When
life became uncomfortable； she evaded it easily； and she evaded it now；
as she gazed at the calm but intent face of the girl in front of her； by
a characteristic inner refusal to admit that she had accidentally come in
contact with something baking。 Therefore she broke the silence。
〃Isn't that what you wantyou who are striking？〃 she asked。
〃I think we want the things that you've got；〃 said Janet。 A phrase one
of the orators had used came into her mind； 〃Enough money to live up to
American standards〃but she did not repeat it。 〃Enough money to be
free； to enjoy life； to have some leisure and amusement and luxury。〃 The
last three she took from the orator's mouth。
〃But surely；〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Brocklehurst； 〃surely you want more than
that！〃
Janet shook her head。
〃You asked me what we believed； the I。W。W。； the syndicalists； and I told
you you wouldn't like it。 Well； we believe in doing away with you； the
rich； and taking all you have for ourselves； the workers； the producers。
We believe you