HOBSON. Well, I don't see what you have to cheer about, Vickey. I'm not to be dragged to public scorn, but you know this is a tidy bit of money to be going out of the family. (_Sits sofa_, R. C.) MAGGIE. It's not going out of the family, father. (_Moves up_ R.) HOBSON. I don't see how you make it out. MAGGIE. Their wedding-day is not so far off as you thought, now there's the half of five hundred pounds apiece for them to make a start on. (ALBERT _and_ ALICE, FRED _and_ VICKEY _stand arm in arm_, L.) HOBSON. You mean to tell me-- MAGGIE. You won't forget you've passed your word, will you father? HOBSON (_rising_). I've been diddled. (_Moves_ C.) It's a plant. It-- MAGGIE. It takes two daughters off your hands at once, and clears your shop of all the fools of women that used to lumber up the place. ALICE. It will be much easier for you without us in your way, father. HOBSON. Aye, and you can keep out of my way and all. Do you hear that, all of you? VICKEY. Father...! HOBSON (_picking up his hat_). I'll run that shop with men and--and I'll show Salford how it should be run. Don't you imagine there'll be room for you when you come home crying and tired of your fine husbands. I'm rid of ye, and it's a lasting riddance, mind. I'll pay this money, that you've robbed me of, and that's the end of it. All of you. You, especially, Maggie. I'm not blind yet, and I can see who 'tis I've got to thank for this. (_He goes to foot of stairs_.) MAGGIE. Don't be vicious, father. HOBSON. Will Mossop, I'm sorry for you. (_Over banisters_.) Take you for all in all, you're the best of the bunch. You're a backward lad, but you know your trade and it's an honest one. (HOBSON _is going up the stairs_.) ALICE. So does my Albert know his trade. (_Goes_ R. C.) HOBSON (_half-way up-stairs_). I'll grant you that. He knows his trade. He's good at robbery. (ALICE _shows great indignation_.) And I've to have it on my conscience that my daughter's wed a lawyer and an employer of lawyers. VICKEY. It didn't worry your conscience to keep us serving in the shop at no wages. HOBSON. I kept you, didn't I? It's some one else's job to victual you in future. Aye, you may grin, you two, but girls don't live on air. Your penny buns 'ull cost you tuppence now--and more. Wait, till the families begin to come. Don't come to me for keep, that's all. (_Going_.) ALICE. Father! HOBSON (_turning_). Aye. You may father me. But that's a piece of work I've finished with. I've done with fathering, and they're beginning it. They'll know what marrying a woman means before so long. They're putting chains upon themselves and I have thrown the shackles off. I've suffered thirty years and more and I'm a free man from to-day. Lord, what a thing you're taking on! You poor, poor wretches. You're red-nosed robbers, but you're going to pay for it. (_He opens door and exits_ R.)