She pushed back her veil, took out her handkerchief, put her hand on a chair in front, and gave the directors an apologetic smile.
"I don't know if it is usual for a woman to speak at a business meeting, but I have a number of shares in the line and it's long since I got a good dividend," she said.

"Two per cent is ridiculous and my lawyer tells me I could get four per cent, where the security is really good." She paused and added naively: "To have twice as much to spend would be very nice." Somebody laughed and Cartwright braced himself.

Ellen Seaton was cleverer than she looked, and he thought her dangerous, but in the meantime he durst not stop her.
"One feels that security's important and it's plain ours is not first-class," she resumed.

"Well, I suppose if we accept the report, it means we are satisfied to let the company's business be managed on the old plan ?" "It does mean something like that," a man agreed.
"Then I'm _not_ satisfied.

For one thing, I want a proper dividend." "We all want a proper dividend," somebody remarked.
Mrs.Seaton smiled, as if she were encouraged.