Past Caring by Robert Goddard Page B

the last suffrage extension in 1884, that the presently 58

R O B E R T G O D D A R D
    growing militancy was a symptom of rightful frustration and that, if the Liberal Party did not soon take heed, they would lose ground to those—like the Labour Party—who would.
    “Miss Latimer, you are more convincing than any housebrick.”
    “But, without the brick, would you have listened?”
    “I have always listened to the suffragists, but I would not have listened to this one in particular. Therefore I give thanks for the brick.”
    “Mr. Strafford, you flatter me. What matters is not whether I am convincing but whether you are convinced.”
    “I am convinced that you are a most remarkable young lady which my party is the poorer for having lost to the suffragist cause.
    How came it to have so ardent a campaigner?”
    “In no very different way to that in which it has recruited many educated women who grew tired of waiting for politicians to see sense.”
    “Yet your example might be instructive.”
    “I doubt it. But my story is briefly told, so let us see. My family hails from the Forest of Dean. My mother died when I was born and my father when I was ten. I was an only child and therefore had to rely on the charity of distant relatives. Fortunately, an aunt took me in. I still live with her, in Putney. My father had left sufficient for my education at a boarding school in Kent. There, one day in the library, I read of a meeting in Manchester disrupted by Christabel.”
    “I remember it well.”
    “It made me realize that there were many who shared my dis-satisfaction with the sort of deferential existence we girls were being groomed for. As soon as I left school, I made contact with the Women’s Social & Political Union. I was well-received and at once impressed by their energy and commitment. Christabel was the driving force and inspired us all, as she still does.”
    “To attack politicians?”
    “Mr. Strafford, you would hardly expect me to volunteer to His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Home Affairs information about who planned or suggested such acts. I take sole responsibility for my action on Thursday evening.”
     

P A S T C A R I N G
    59
    “I am glad to hear it, Miss Latimer. I was not inviting disloyalty and, besides, your action on Thursday evening will never be a police matter. I am only trying to establish how matters have come to this pass.”
    “Then you already know. We women have waited too long and will wait no longer. Remember what I said in my note.”
    “Oh, I do. Unhappily, it is not within the power of the government to meet your demands. If a bill for female suffrage passed the Commons tomorrow, it would assuredly be rejected by the Lords.”
    “That, Mr. Strafford, is your problem.”
    “And it will be solved. Our differences with the Upper House are approaching a crisis, which will, I believe, be precipitated by this year’s Budget. But the crisis will take time to resolve—at least a year. Until it is, what is the point in harrying us?”
    “Lest you forget, when the time comes.”
    “I for one will not. But perhaps you could donate an occasional brick to serve as an aide memoire.”
    “I shall be casting no more in your direction. One is enough.”
    “Then we have achieved something?”
    “I think so.”
    “Yet I may still forget. It would seem a pity to do so for want of your refreshing candour.”
    “Feel free to avail yourself of it at any time.”
    “I hope I may. I have enjoyed our talk here in the sunshine.
    Could I perhaps suggest a little outing into the countryside later this week for a further ministration of your antidote to a politician’s self-importance?”
    “In my judgement, Mr. Strafford, you need the antidote less than your colleagues, but I would not wish to deny treatment to the valetudinarian.”
    “Who is pleased to hear it. My office permits me a few ex-travagances. One is the motorcar I have recently purchased. An excursion in it might