This meant
that the Conciliation Bill was _finally_ done for; while the
declaration of the Prime Minister as to the future Programme of the
Liberal Party, if it was returned to power, excluded any mention of
a Woman's enfranchisement Bill.
On Black Friday, November 18th, Vivie was present at the meeting in
Caxton Hall when Mrs. Pankhurst explained the position to the
Suffragist women assembled there. Her blood was fired by the recital
of their wrongs and she was prominent among the four hundred and
fifty volunteers who came forward to accompany Mrs. Pankhurst, Dr.
Garret Anderson and Susan Knipper-Totes (the two last, infirm old
ladies) when they proposed to march to the Houses of Parliament to
exercise their right of presenting a petition.
The women proceeded to Parliament Square in small groups so as to
keep within the letter of the law. Some like Vivie carried banners
with pitiful devices--"Where there's a Bill there's a Way," "Women's
Will Beats Asquith's Skill," and so on.... She wished she had given
more direct attention to these mottoes, but much of this procedure
had been got up on impulse and little preparation made. It was near
to four o'clock on a fine November afternoon when the four hundred
and fifty women began their movement towards Parliament Square. A
red sun was sinking behind the House of Lords, the blue of the misty
buildings and street openings was enhanced by the lemon yellow
lights of the newly-lit lamps.
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