BISHOP. It need not have been dogs. It might have been--other things. TIPPY. True, sir. I considered the hanging of clothes lines for women whose husbands are mechanical morons. BISHOP. That's an ingenious idea. TIPPY. But I found there weren't enough morons. Automobiles, sir, have taught even the gentry to use screw drivers. BISHOP. I like your humor. You have enterprise and perspective. You renew my faith in youth. I wish my son had such morale. I wish ... Where is he, Timothy? Where is Kenneth? And Laura? Do you know where they went? TIPPY. I'm afraid not. BISHOP. I must find them. [_Rises to go._] TIPPY. The best chance is they'll be back here. BISHOP. [_Sitting again, speaks slowly._] I am guilty of a great wrong against my son. TIPPY. I'm sure it wasn't a wilful wrong. BISHOP. No. I love my son. I meant to help him. Sometimes it is hard to know what is right and what is wrong. Timothy, I arranged for my son to have a job. [_Pause._] I conspired to let him think he had secured the job in the usual manner. I fear I made a great mistake. TIPPY. I understand the spirit that prompted you. BISHOP. Thank you. [_Pause._] He called me up on the telephone and said I had ruined his life with my meddling. He said I was an unworthy example of a man of God. He said I had betrayed him ... [_He is too moved to go on_,] He said harsh things--very harsh things. TIPPY. I am very sorry, sir. [_He feels helpless to comfort the old man. In the ensuing, uncomfortable silence,_ KEN, MARTIN _and_ LAURA _come in_. KEN _is drunk and boisterous_, MARTIN _is trying to hold him back,_ KEN _backs into the room, dragging_ MARTIN _with him_. LAURA _follows._] KEN. I got to go in. Got to find Ted. I got to 'pologize to Ted. [MARTIN, _seeing_ BISHOP, _lets go of_ KEN _who nearly falls_, KEN _does not see his father._] I got to shake hands with him and say, Ted, ol' boy, you're right. We're in the same boat. We're brothers under the skin. We are both kept men. BISHOP. My son! KEN. [_Turns slowly and sees his father._] Hi, dad! [_Gestures to_ LAURA.] Meet the wife. She got the job. You paid for it. [_Silence. Gestures to_ MARTIN.] Meet Martin. He's a god-damned Communist. But I like him. BISHOP. My son, you have been drinking. KEN. Drinking? [_Laughs--to_ MARTIN.] He thinks I have been drinking. [_To_ TIPPY.] Hi! Good old Tippy. Washes dogs.--Kept dogs. Kept women. Kept men. TIPPY. [_Taking him by the arm._] Come on, Ken. Come out in the kitchen and have some coffee. KEN. I don't want coffee. Makes you 'member what you got drunk to forget. TIPPY. All right, then. I'll give you some more whiskey. BISHOP. [_In horror._] I forbid. Please, no more liquor. KEN. That's right. No more liquor. Might forget too much. TIPPY. Then come in and go to sleep and forget everything.