Ste. Yes, but a willing Polygon will make a lot of difference, and if you want Lucy as bad as you say, here's your way to help yourself to her. Walter. I don't see what Lucy has to do with it. Ste. Don't you? Walter. Well, do you? The town proposes to buy the Polygon for the people. It's an excellent project and my plain duty is to further it. I shan't fail in my duty merely because of the unpleasant unheaval in the lives of a few people who happen to be dear to me. Ste. Oh! Well, I don't want words, I want deeds. Succeed and I'll think about calling you son-in-law--if Lucy doesn't change her mind meantime. Walter. I can't see why you insist on making a kind of bribe of Lucy when there's only one course open to me in any case. Ste. (_grimly_). I'm making sure of things. Lucy. Father, you don't doubt---- Ste. I always doubt an untried man. I doubt if he'll have the pluck to face old Vining in the Polygon--I doubt lots of things. Put it that I'm giving him some Dutch courage to stiffen his back. Walter (_desperately_). I don't want Dutch courage. Is there any way of convincing you that I mean what I say? Ste. There's going and doing it. Walter. Very well, I will. (_Moving as if to go._) Ste. (_stopping him_). Remember, you're not engaged to Lucy yet. Walter. I understand. (_Crosses r._) Ste. That'll do, then. You know what you've to do. Good-night. Walter. Yes. Good-night, Mr. Verity. (_Lucy moves towards right door._) Ste. (_to Lucy_). You stay where you are. Say good-night to him while I've got my eye on you. He can find the front door without your help. (_Lucy and Walter shake hands, R._) Walter. Good-night. (_Exit Walter, r. A slight pause. Stephen eyes Lucy from head to foot before speaking. Lucy crosses and sits l. of table._) Ste. (_before fire, judicially_). It strikes me pretty forcibly I've brought a fool into the world. (_Sharply._) How long's this been going on behind my back? Lucy (_with an air of standing up to him_). Nothing's gone on behind your back. I told Walter at once he must speak to you. Ste. Umph! If you'd told me you wanted help to send him about his business there'd have been some sense in it. But you backed him up. You showed, fight. You're getting proud, my girl. Lucy. I've grown up, father. Ste. Grown up, have you? All right. If you fancy you're too old to come to me for advice you can do without. Lucy. You know I want your advice. Ste. So as you can do opposite, eh? Lucy. Oh, that's unjust, father. I never disobeyed you in my life. Ste, And you'd better not begin now, or you and I will fall out. Ha! So you're grown up, are you? Yes, you've been a legal woman for a week. Only I've been a legal man for thirty years and you'll allow I know the world better than you. Lucy. Of course. Ste. Oh, you do agree to that, do you? Lucy. Certainly.