"
"When Toil ceases the People suffer," said Sybil. "That is
the only truth that we have learnt, and it is a bitter one."
"Can we be free without suffering," said Gerard. "Is the
greatest of human blessings to be obtained as a matter of
course; to be plucked like fruit, or seized like a running
stream? No, no: we must suffer, but we are wiser than of
yore,--we will not conspire. Conspiracies are for
aristocrats, not for nations."
"Alas, alas! I see nothing but woe," said Sybil. "I cannot
believe that after all that has passed, the people here will
move: I cannot believe that after all that has passed, all
that you, that we, have endured, that you, my father, will
counsel them to move."
"I counsel nothing," said Gerard. "It must be a great
national instinct that does it: but if all England, if Wales,
if Scotland won't work, is Mowbray to have a monopoly?"
"Ah! that's a bitter jest," said Sybil. "England, Wales,
Scotland will be forced to work as they were forced before.
How can they subsist without labour? And if they could, there
is an organised power that will subdue them."
"The Benefit Societies, the Sick and Burial Clubs," have money
in the banks that would maintain the whole working classes,
with aid in kind that will come, for six weeks, and that will
do the business.
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