Ste. And it had better be the last, if you don't want to quarrel. I'm not one of these weak-kneed modern fathers that let themselves be browbeaten by their own children. Perhaps you think you'll get him whether I consent or not? Lucy. I hope you will consent. (_Pause._), Ste. I'm not fond of curates, Lucy. It's a soft job, and a real man looks for a fighting chance in life. Walter. I get plenty of fighting to do, Mr. Verity. Ste. Who do you fight with? Walter. Evil, in every shape and form. Ste. 'Um, the devil's game for a few rounds yet. Walter. He's an old hand, and if we haven't knocked him out we're weakening his defence. Ste. Well, I'll give you a chance of showing it. Walter. In a good cause, I hope. Ste. The cause is all right. You're a parson. Got the good of the poor at heart and all that sort of thing? Walter. I hope so. Ste. Yes. (_Briskly._) Well now, about Lucy. Walter. Is that the fight? Ste. I'm coming to the fight. You say you love her. Walter. I do. (_Stephen is between them._) Ste. (_to Lucy_). You love him? Lucy. Yes. (_Lucy r., Stephen c., Walter l._) Ste. (_holding up his hands evenly_). Quits so far. Income on the male side £150 a year. (_Surveys his right hand._) Income on the female side £1,000. (_Depressing his left hand as if weighing the incomes in scales._) Hullo! wo! something wrong there. Doesn't balance. Walter (_bitterly_). Do you think I don't know it? Ste. (_dropping his hands_). Yes. You've hooked your fish, my boy. But you're a long way off landing her yet. Walter. Tell me what you want me to do. Ste. (_curtly_). Earn her. Walter. Yes, but how? (_Steps forward._) Ste. By fighting. By doing something for the good of the town. There's this proposal to buy up the Polygon. Walter (_eagerly_). Yes? Ste. Well, now you know what you've to do. You know what Polygon people are and you know what the town needs. Walter. The town needs space and decent houses. Ste. That's what you've to rub into your Polygon set, and you'll not find 'em seeing it so easy. Walter. You can't blame them if they don't exactly welcome the idea of turning out and making fresh homes in their old age. It's only natural. Ste. Oh, I'm not afraid of them. They'll not stop us. All you've to do is to make them see they're an obstacle to progress in this town. They're bound to see justice if they are narrow and selfish and too puffed up with pride to know the townspeople and---- Walter. And they're my father and my friends, Mr. Verity. Ste. Yes, I knew you only disbelieved in class distinctions during business hours. Scratch the curate and find the hypocrite. Walter (_keeping his temper smilingly_). As bad as all that? Ste. The moment I attack your class you're up in arms to defend 'em. Walter. No. They take up too much room in the Polygon. I never said they didn't. But they'll not want to go. And surely the whole thing depends on Sir Charles' readiness to sell.