Walter. But you mustn't pin your faith on Verity. He's, the last man---- Vin. Walter, as a Churchman, I am always willing to accept your views on religious matters. But when it comes to worldly questions, permit me to have an opinion of my own. (_Pilling appears and knocks on the window without advancing into the room._) Oh, Pilling! Pilling (_in c.o._). Yes, sir? Vin. Come in. (_Pilling advances a foot and stands awkwardly near the window._) Pilling. Letter ready, sir? Vin. (_absently_). Yes, yes. (_Montgomery rises gets letter from mantel; hands it to Vining._) There you are. (_Up to Pilling, who turns to go._) One moment, Pilling, I want to ask you something. Can you tell me how people in the town talk of the Polygon? Pilling. How they talk, sir? Vin. Yes. What's the general opinion of us? Pilling. It's not for the likes of me to talk against the gentry. Walter. They _do_ talk against us, then? Pilling (_awkwardly_). Well, sir----- (_He pauses._) Walter (_helping him out_). Tell them how you live, Pilling. Pilling. You can tell that as well as me. Vin. (_impatiently_). Yes, yes, but that's not the point. Doesn't your class feel what a privilege it is to have us living in your midst? Pilling (_earnestly_). _I'd_ be badly off without you, sir. Vin. You'd be sorry to lose us, eh? Walter. Of course _he_ would. A gardener's no use if there's nothing to garden. Only Carrington's not a garden city. It's a manufacturing town. Mont. (_with back to fire, to Pilling_). Supposing now you weren't a gardener? Vin. Yes. What's the common view of us? Pilling. Well, sir, it 'ud seem to me against nature if the town had no quality in it. Vin. (_turning triumphantly to Walter_). You see? (_Patronising Pilling._) You're perfectly right, Pilling. I've noticed it before. (_Talking at the ladies._) The masses always have this instinctive clinging to their superiors. They know we're the source of all prosperity. Pilling (_shyly_). There's queer talk, sometimes, sir. _I_ know gentlemen are different from us, but there's men in this town wanting to tell me we're all born equal--asking your pardon, sir. Mrs. V. You know better than that, Pilling. Pilling. Yes, mum. Vin. You could never get on without us. Pilling. No, sir. Walter. Be honest, man. No one's going to hurt you for it. Tell us the truth, about the overcrowding and the waste of valuable space in the Polygon. Mrs. V. Yes. Tell us the truth, Pilling, and say you know how necessary we are. Pilling. You're bread and butter to me, mum, and I know it. Vin. There you are, Walter. Walter (_impatiently_). But he's an exception. He's Vin. (_interrupting_). You've got the letter, Pilling. Pilling. Yes, sir. (_Turning, then courageously._) There's no denying as the overcrowding's something cruel. I wouldn't say a word of it, not to you, sir, if I didn't know and see and suffer it. (_Montgomery sits again below fire._) Vin. That'll do, Pilling. Pilling. Yes, sir. (_Turns to go._)