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BILL。 Mother's particularly generous； if that's what you mean。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇Drily＇ We will put it that way。 ＇A pause＇ At the
present moment you owe； as I understand it； eleven hundred pounds。
BILL。 About that。
SIR WILLIAM。 Mere flea…bite。 ＇A pause＇ I've a proposition to make。
BILL。 Won't it do to…morrow； sir？
SIR WILLIAM。 〃To…morrow〃 appears to be your motto in life。
BILL。 Thanks！
SIR WILLIAM。 I'm anxious to change it to…day。 ＇BILL looks at him in
silence＇ It's time you took your position seriously； instead of
hanging about town； racing； and playing polo； and what not。
BILL。 Go ahead！
At something dangerous in his voice； SIR WILLIAM modifies his
attitude。
SIR； WILLIAM。 The proposition's very simple。 I can't suppose
anything so rational and to your advantage will appeal to you； but
＇drily＇ I mention it。 Marry a nice girl； settle down； and stand for
the division； you can have the Dower House and fifteen hundred a
year； and I'll pay your debts into the bargain。 If you're elected
I'll make it two thousand。 Plenty of time to work up the
constituency before we kick out these infernal Rads。 Carpetbagger
against you； if you go hard at it in the summer； it'll be odd if you
don't manage to get in your three days a week； next season。 You can
take Rocketer and that four…year…oldhe's well up to your weight；
fully eight and a half inches of bone。 You'll only want one other。
And if Missif your wife means to hunt
BILL。 You've chosen my wife； then？
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇With a quick look＇ I imagine； you've some girl in
your mind。
BILL。 Ah！
SIR WILLIAM： Used not to be unnatural at your age。 I married your
mother at twenty…eight。 Here you are； eldest son of a family that
stands for something。 The more I see of the times the more I'm
convinced that everybody who is anybody has got to buckle to； and
save the landmarks left。 Unless we're true to our caste； and
prepared to work for it； the landed classes are going to go under to
this infernal democratic spirit in the air。 The outlook's very
serious。 We're threatened in a hundred ways。 If you mean business；
you'll want a wife。 When I came into the property I should have been
lost without your mother。
BILL。 I thought this was coming。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇With a certain geniality＇ My dear fellow； I don't
want to put a pistol to your head。 You've had a slack rein so far。
I've never objected to your sowing a few wild oats…so long as you…
…er＇Unseen by SIR WILLIAM； BILL makes a sudden movement＇ Short of
thatat all events； I've not inquired into your affairs。 I can only
judge by theerpecuniary evidence you've been good enough to
afford me from time to time。 I imagine you've lived like a good many
young men in your positionI'm not blaming you； but there's a time
for all things。
BILL。 Why don't you say outright that you want me to marry Mabel
Lanfarne？
SITS WILLIAM。 Well； I do。 Girl's a nice one。 Good familygot a
little moneyrides well。 Isn't she good…looking enough for you； or
what？
BILL。 Quite； thanks。
SIR WILLIAM。 I understood from your mother that you and she were on
good terms。
BILL。 Please don't drag mother into it。
SIR WILLIAM。 ＇With dangerous politeness＇ Perhaps you'll be good
enough to state your objections。
BILL。 Must we go on with this？
SIR WILLIAM。 I've never asked you to do anything for me before； I
expect you to pay attention now。 I've no wish to dragoon you into
this particular marriage。 If you don't care for Miss Lanfarne； marry
a girl you're fond of。
BILL。 I refuse。
SIR WILLIAM。 In that case you know what to look out for。 ＇With a
sudden rush of choler＇ You young。。。。 ＇He checks himself and stands
glaring at BILL； who glares back at him＇ This means； I suppose； that
you've got some entanglement or other。
BILL。 Suppose what you like； sir。
SITS WILLIAM。 I warn you； if you play the blackguard
BILL。 You can't force me like young Dunning。
Hearing the raised voices LADY CHESHIRE has come back from the
billiard…room。
LADY CHESHIRE。 ＇Closing the door＇ What is it？
SIR WILLIAM。 You deliberately refuse！ Go away； Dorothy。
LADY CHESHIRE。 ＇Resolutely＇ I haven't seen Bill for two months。
SIR WILLIAM。 What！ ＇Hesitating＇ Wellwe must talk it over again。
LADY CHESHIRE。 Come to the billiard…room； both of you！ Bill； do
finish those letters！
With a deft movement she draws SIR WILLIAM toward the
billiard…room； and glances back at BILL before going out； but he
has turned to the writing…table。 When the door is closed； BILL
looks into the drawing…room； them opens the door under the
stairs； and backing away towards the writing…table； sits down
there； and takes up a pen。 FREDA who has evidently been
waiting； comes in and stands by the table。
BILL。 I say； this is dangerous； you know。
FREDA。 Yesbut I must。
BILL。 Well； then＇With natural recklessness＇ Aren't you going to
kiss me？
Without moving she looks at him with a sort of miserable inquiry。
BILL。 Do you know you haven't seen me for eight weeks？
FREDA。 Quitelong enoughfor you to have forgotten。
BILL。 Forgotten！ I don't forget people so soon。
FREDA。 No？
BILL。 What's the matter with you； Freda？
FREDA。 ＇After a long look＇ It'll never be as it was。
BILL。 ＇Jumping up＇ How d'you mean？
FREDA。 I've got something for you。 ＇She takes a diamond ring out of
her dress and holds it out to him＇ I've not worn it since Cromer。
BILL。 Now； look here
FREDA。 I've had my holiday； I shan't get another in a hurry。
BILL。 Freda！
FREDA。 You'll be glad to be free。 That fortnight's all you really
loved me in。
BILL。 ＇Putting his hands on her arms＇ I swear
FREDA。 ＇Between her teeth＇ Miss Lanfarne need never know about me。
BILL。 So that's it！ I've told you a dozen timesnothing's changed。
＇FREDA looks at him and smiles。＇
BILL。 Oh！ very well！ If you will make yourself miserable。
FREDA。 Everybody will be pleased。
BILL。 At what？
FREDA。 When you marry her。
BILL。 This is too bad。
FREDA。 It's what always happenseven when it's not agentleman。
BILL。 That's enough。
FREDA。 But I'm not like that girl down in the village。 You needn't
be afraid I'll say anything whenit comes。 That's what I had to
tell you。
BILL。 What！
FREDA。 I can keep a secret。
BILL。 Do you mean this？ ＇She bows her head。＇
BILL。 Good God！
FREDA。 Father brought me up not to whine。 Like the puppies when
they hold them up by their tails。 ＇With a sudden break in her voice＇
Oh！ Bill！
BILL。 ＇With his head down； seizing her hands＇ Freda！ ＇He breaks
away from her towards the fire＇ Good God！
She stands looking at him；