Octavia: A Sweeping Saga of the Suffragette Movement by Beryl Kingston

Author:Beryl Kingston [Kingston, Beryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Agora Books
Published: 2021-02-20T23:00:00+00:00

Then he added a postscript, just to make his feelings clear.

PS I hope you haven’t forgotten me.

‘How could I?’ she wrote back. Although privately she had to admit that there were times in her teaching day when she hardly thought of him at all because she was giving so much attention to her pupils and the progress they were making. Worse, she’d barely given a thought to the suffrage movement either, certainly not since the term began. I must visit the shop, she thought, and see how they’re all getting on. I haven’t been near them since the funeral and that’s months away. I suppose I ought to resign from the committee. She felt that she was deserting the Cause and that made her feel ashamed of herself. But of course it was what she was doing. It was why she’d taken the job. I owe them an explanation, at the very least, she thought. I shall go down and see them at the next committee meeting.

It was a delicately handled occasion, for she was being careful not to upset them by appearing to be critical of what other suffragettes were doing and they were mindful of the illness she’d suffered since she was released from that dreadful gaol and wanted to treat her gently.

‘We’re so proud of you, my dear,’ Mrs Emsworth said, when they were sitting round the table in the committee room. ‘To have run such a risk for our Cause is admirable beyond words.’

But there were words and Octavia had to speak them. ‘I would be less than honest if I let you think I’m of the same mind now as I was when I was arrested,’ she said. ‘The truth is that being ill for such a long time has given me pause to think and I have to say I’m not at all sure that deliberately breaking the law and facing the punishment is the most effective way to further our Cause. In fact, I’m afraid we are losing the support of the public the more violent we become — and the more violent our opponents are towards us — and unfortunately public support is something we must have if we are to prevail.’

‘But what else can we do?’ Betty Transom said. ‘We’ve marched our feet off and they don’t take any notice, we’ve petitioned, we’ve written endless letters, what other way is there?’

Octavia had to confess that she didn’t know. ‘It must be democratic,’ she said. ‘I’m sure of that. It must be within the rule of law even though it’s the law we want to change. I shall give it as much thought as I can, I promise, and I shall keep in touch with you all even if I’m not your secretary any more. I haven’t deserted the Cause. I should hate you to think that. I shall march whenever the march is legal, and I shall write letters and sign petitions until my arm falls off. It is just that I can’t break the law again.

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