WILLIE. William Mossop, late Hobson, is the name this shop 'ull have. MAGGIE. Wait a bit, Will. I don't agree to that. HOBSON (_over to her_). Oh, so you have piped up at last. I began to think you'd both lost your senses together. MAGGIE. It had better not be "late Hobson." WILLIE (L. C.). Well, I meant it should. HOBSON. Just wait a bit. I want to know if I'm taking this in aright. (_Moves_ R. C.) I'm to be given a half-share in my own business on condition I take no part in running it. Is that what you said? WILLIE. That's it. HOBSON. Well, I've heard of impudence before, but-- MAGGIE. It's all right, father. HOBSON. But did you hear what he said? MAGGIE. Yes. That's settled. Quite settled, father. (_Pushing him_.) It's only the name we're arguing about. (_To_ WILL.) I won't have "late Hobson's", Will. HOBSON. I'm not dead, yet, my lad, and I'll show you I'm not. MAGGIE. I think Hobson and Mossop is best. HOBSON. His name on my sign-board! WILLIE. The best I'll do is this: Mossop and Hobson. MAGGIE. No. WILLIE. Mossop and Hobson or it's Oldfield Road for us, Maggie. MAGGIE. Very well. Mossop and Hobson. (WILL _moves_ L.) HOBSON. But-- (MAGGIE _moves up stage_ R.) WILLIE (_opening door and looking through_). I'll make some alterations in this shop, and all. I will so. (_He goes through door and returns at once with a battered cane chair_.) HOBSON. Alterations in my shop! (_Goes_ C.) WILLIE. In mine. Look at that chair. How can you expect the high-class customers to come and sit on a chair like that? Why, we'd only a cellar, but they did sit on cretonne for their trying on. HOBSON. Cretonne! It's pampering folk. (MAGGIE _comes down stage_ R.) WILLIE. Cretonne for a cellar, and morocco for this shop. Folk like to be pampered. Pampering pays. (_He takes the chair out and returns immediately_.) There'll be a carpet on that floor, too. HOBSON. Carpet! Morocco! Young man, do you think this shop is in Saint Ann's Square, Manchester? WILLIE. Not yet. But it is going to be. HOBSON. What does he mean? (_Appealing to heaven_.) WILLIE. It's no farther from Chapel Street to Saint Ann's Square than it is from Oldfield Road to Chapel Street. I've done one jump in a year and if I wait a bit I'll do the other. (HOBSON _sits_ R. _of table_.) Maggie, I reckon your father could do with a bit of fresh air after this. I dare say it's come sudden to him. Suppose you walk with him to Albert Prosser's office and get Albert to draw up the deed of partnership. HOBSON (_looking pathetically first at_ MAGGIE, _then at_ WILLIE, _rising obediently_). I'll go and get my hat. (_Exit_ HOBSON R.) WILLIE. He's crushed-like, Maggie. I'm afraid I bore on him too hard. (_Going_ R. C.) MAGGIE. You needn't be. WILLIE. I said such things to him, and they sounded as if I meant them, too. MAGGIE. Didn't you?