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thispiece of news since this morning。 I've known it ten minutes。
Give me a little time； please。 ＇Then； after a silence＇ Where's the
girl？
LADY CHESHIRE。 In the workroom。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇Raising his clenched fist＇ What in God's name is he
about？
LADY CHESHIRE。 What have you said to him？
SIR WILLIAM。 Nothing…by a miracle。 ＇He breaks away from the fire
and walks up and down＇ My family goes back to the thirteenth
century。 Nowadays they laugh at that！ I don't！ Nowadays they laugh
at everythingthey even laugh at the word lady。 I married you； and
I don't 。。。。 Married his mother's maid！ By George！ Dorothy！ I
don't know what we've done to deserve this； it's a death blow！ I'm
not prepared to sit down and wait for it。 By Gad！ I am not。 ＇With
sudden fierceness＇ There are plenty in these days who'll be glad
enough for this to happen； plenty of these d…d Socialists and
Radicals； who'll laugh their souls out over what they haven't the
bowels to sees atragedy。 I say it would be a tragedy； for you； and
me； and all of us。 You and I were brought up； and we've brought the
children up； with certain beliefs； and wants； and habits。 A man's
pasthis traditionshe can't get rid of them。 They'rethey're
himself！ ＇Suddenly＇ It shan't go on。
LADY CHESHIRE。 What's to prevent it？
SIR WILLIAM。 I utterly forbid this piece of madness。 I'll stop it。
LADY CHESHIRE。 But the thing we can't stop。
SIR WILLIAM。 Provision must be made。
LADY CHESHIRE。 The unwritten law！
SIR WILLIAM。 What！ ＇Suddenly perceiving what she is alluding to＇
You're thinking of youngyoung ＇Shortly＇ I don't see the
connection。
LADY CHESHIRE。 What's so awful； is that the boy's trying to do
what's loyaland wehis father and mother！
SIR WILLIAM。 I'm not going to see my eldest son ruin his life。 I
must think this out。
LADY CHESHIRE。 ＇Beneath her breath＇ I've tried thatit doesn't
help。
SIR WILLIAM。 This girl； who was born on the estate； had the run of
the housebrought up with money earned from menothing but kindness
from all of us； she's broken the common rules of gratitude and
decencyshe lured him on； I haven't a doubt！
LADY CHESHIRE。 ＇To herself＇ In a way； I suppose。
SIR WILLIAM。 What！ It's ruin。 We've always been here。 Who the
deuce are we if we leave this place？ D'you think we could stay？ Go
out and meet everybody just as if nothing had happened？ Good…bye to
any prestige； political； social； or anything！ This is the sort of
business nothing can get over。 I've seen it before。 As to that
other matterit's soon forgottenconstantly happeningWhy； my own
grandfather！
LADY CHESHIRE。 Does he help？
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇Stares before him in silence…suddenly＇ You must go to
the girl。 She's soft。 She'll never hold out against you。
LADY CHESHIRE。 I did before I knew what was in front of herI said
all I could。 I can't go again now。 I can't do it； Bill。
SIR WILLIAM。 What are you going to do； thenfold your hands？ ＇Then
as LADY CHESHIRE makes a move of distress。＇ If he marries her； I've
done with him。 As far as I'm concerned he'll cease to exist。 The
titleI can't help。 My God！ Does that meet your wishes？
LADY CHESHIRE。 ＇With sudden fire＇ You've no right to put such an
alternative to me。 I'd give ten years of my life to prevent this
marriage。 I'll go to Bill。 I'll beg him on my knees。
SIR WILLIAM。 Then why can't you go to the girl？ She deserves no
consideration。 It's not a question of morality： Morality be d…d！
LADY CHESHIRE。 But not self…respect。。。。
SIR WILLIAM。 What！ You're his mother！
LADY CHESHIRE。 I've tried； I ＇putting her hand to her throat＇ can't
get it out。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇Staring at her＇ You won't go to her？ It's the only
chance。 ＇LADY CHESHIRE turns away。＇
SIR WILLIAM。 In the whole course of our married life； Dorothy； I've
never known you set yourself up against me。 I resent this； I warn
youI resent it。 Send the girl to me。 I'll do it myself。
With a look back at him LADY CHESHIRE goes out into the
corridor。
SIR WILLIAM。 This is a nice end to my day！
He takes a small china cup from of the mantel…piece； it breaks
with the pressure of his hand； and falls into the fireplace。
While he stands looking at it blankly； there is a knock。
SIR WILLIAM。 Come in！
FREDA enters from the corridor。
SIR WILLIAM。 I've asked you to be good enough to come； in order
that＇pointing to chair＇ You may sit down。
But though she advances two or three steps； she does not sit
down。
SIR WILLIAM。 This is a sad business。
FREDA。 ＇Below her breath＇ Yes； Sir William。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇Becoming conscious of the depths of feeling before
him＇ Ierare you attached to my son？
FREDA。 ＇In a whisper＇ Yes。
SIR WILLIAM。 It's very painful to me to have to do this。 ＇He turns
away from her and speaks to the fire。 I sent for youtoask
＇quickly＇ How old are you？
FREDA。 Twenty…two。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇More resolutely＇ Do you expect me to sanction such a
mad idea as a marriage？
FREDA。 I don't expect anything。
SIR WILLIAM。 You knowyou haven't earned the right to be considered。
FREDA。 Not yet！
SIR WILLIAM。 What！ That oughtn't to help you！ On the contrary。 Now
brace yourself up； and listen to me！
She stands waiting to hear her sentence。 SIR WILLIAM looks at
her； and his glance gradually wavers。
SIR WILLIAM。 I've not a word to say for my son。 He's behaved like a
scamp。
FREDA。 Oh！ no！
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇With a silencing gesture＇ At the same； time What
made you forget yourself？ You've no excuse； you know。
FREDA。 No。
SIR WILLIAM。 You'll deserve all you'll get。 Confound it！ To expect
me to It's intolerable！ Do you know where my son is？
FREDA。 ＇Faintly＇ I think he's in the billiard…room with my lady。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇With renewed resolution＇ I wanted toto put it to
youas aas awhat！ ＇Seeing her stand so absolutely motionless；
looking at him； he turns abruptly； and opens the billiard…room door＇
I'll speak to him first。 Come in here； please！ ＇To FREDA＇ Go in； and
wait！
LADY CHESHIRE and BILL Come in； and FREDA passing them； goes
into the billiard…room to wait。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇Speaking with a pause between each sentence＇ Your
mother and I have spoken of thiscalamity。 I imagine that even you
have some dim perception of the monstrous nature of it。 I must tell
you this： If you do this mad thing； you fend for yourself。 You'll
receive nothing from me now or hereafter。 I consider that only due
to the position our family has always held here。 Your brother will
take your place。 We shallget on as best we can without you。 ＇There
is a dead silence till he adds sharply＇ Well！
BILL。 I shall marry her。
LADY CHESHIRE。 Oh！ Bill！ Without love…without anything！