WILLIE. Aye, we can come to grips better now there are no fine ladies about. HOBSON. They've got stiff necks with pride, and the difference between you two and them's a thing I ought to mark and that I'm going to mark. There's times for holding back and times for letting loose, and being generous. Now, you're coming here, to this house, both of you, and you can have the back bedroom for your own and the use of this room split along with me. Maggie 'ull keep house, and if she's time to spare she can lend a hand in the shop. I'm finding Will a job. You can come back to your old bench in the cellar, Will, and I'll pay you the old wage of eighteen shillings a week and you and me 'ull go equal whacks in the cost of the housekeeping, and if that's not handsome, I dunno what is. I'm finding you a house rent free and paying half the keep of your wife. WILLIE. Come home, Maggie. (_He rises, goes_ L.) MAGGIE. I think I'll have to. (_She rises_.) HOBSON. Whatever's the hurry for? WILLIE. It may be news to you--(_moving a little_ R.),--but I've a business round in Oldfield Road and I'm neglecting it with wasting my time here. HOBSON. Wasting time? Maggie, what's the matter with Will? I've made him a proposal. MAGGIE. He's a shop of his own to see to, father. HOBSON. (_incredulous_). A man who's offered a job at Hobson's doesn't want to worry with a shop of his own in a wretched cellar in Oldfield Road. WILLIE. Shall I tell him, Maggie, or shall we go? HOBSON. Go! I don't want to keep a man who--(_Rises_.) MAGGIE. If he goes, I go with him, father. You'd better speak out, Will. WILLIE. All right, I will. We've been a year in yon wretched cellar and do you know what we've done? We've paid off Mrs. Hepworth what she lent us for our start and made a bit o' brass on top o' that. We've got your high-class trade away from you. That shop's a cellar, and as you say, it's wretched, but they come to us in it, and they don't come to you. Your trade's gone down till all you sell is clogs. You've got no trade, and me and Maggie's got it all and now you're on your bended knees to her to come and live with you, and all you think to offer me is my old job at eighteen shillings a week. Me that's the owner of a business that is starving yours to death. HOBSON. But--but--you're Will Mossop, you're my old shoe hand. WILLIE. Aye. I were, but I've moved on a bit since then. Your daughter married me and set about my education. And--and now I'll tell you what I'll do and it'll be the handsome thing and all from me to you. I'll close my shop-- HOBSON. Oh! That doesn't sound like doing so well. WILLIE. I'm doing well, but I'll do better here. I'll transfer to this address and what I'll do that's generous is this: I'll take you into partnership and give you your half-share on the condition you're sleeping partner and you don't try interference on with me. (_Goes_ L.) HOBSON. A partner! You--here--