(_Harry Egerton enters_)

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

Harry.

HARRY EGERTON.

Bishop Hardbrooke.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

You don't seem To mind the cold or anything down here.

HARRY EGERTON.

We have been busy.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

I should think so. Yes It's wonderful the way you've plunged right in To business.

HARRY EGERTON.

Yes.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

Things going pretty well?

HARRY EGERTON.

Yes.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

I'm glad.

HARRY EGERTON.

You sent for me.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

Yes.

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

Harry, We've come to see if something can't be done To end this controversy and bring peace, An honorable peace to all concerned.

A permanent state of strife is far from pleasant.

There's nothing sadder in the life of man Than to see towns disrupted, cla.s.ses arrayed Against each other, to say nothing, Harry, Of this far dearer tie that's straining here, That pains us all far more than we can tell.

We've often had these troubles in the Church, Mostly in the past, of course, men differing Upon some point of doctrine or government.

And my experience is that at the bottom There's something that at first was overlooked, Then, in the strife that followed, overwhelmed.

There's common ground, there must be in these things.

Look at the world; we pa.s.s along the street.

We don't confront each other and block the way.

Each yields a bit and so we all pa.s.s on.

And in relationships it must be the same.

We're one, my brother.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

Like our fingers here.

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

And when we're not, when interests seem to clash, It's just as sure as Death or anything Some law of G.o.d is being tampered with.

And so we thought we'd come----

RALPH ARDSLEY.

And now's the time.

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

For, as you know, in town the feeling's growing That there's a sword impending over us Which the least breath will bring down on our heads.

RALPH ARDSLEY.

And not in the town alone, but the whole State-- They seem to have their eyes upon us here.

You've seen the papers how the strikes are spreading.

The mills at Upton and the plant at Sawyer, And down the State there's Smith and Balding Brothers, Heac.o.x and Knight, twelve hundred men gone out, Demanding unconditionally the mills.

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

Think of it, Harry, think of what this means!

RALPH ARDSLEY.

Not satisfied with wages any more.

HARRY EGERTON.

Pardon me.

(_Walks rear and listens_)

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

He doesn't listen to what I say.