HOBSON. I've tried all ways, and I'm fair moithered. I dunno what to do. (_Scratches his head_.) JIM. Then you quit roaring at 'em and get 'em wed. (_Rises_.) HOBSON. I've thought of that. Trouble is to find the men. JIM. Men's common enough. Are you looking for angels in breeches? HOBSON. I'd like my daughters to wed temperance young men, Jim. JIM. You keep your ambitions within reasonable limits, Henry. You've three daughters to find husbands for. HOBSON. Two, Jim, two. JIM. Two? HOBSON. Vickey and Alice are mostly window dressing in the shop. But Maggie's too useful to part with. And she's a bit on the ripe side for marrying, is our Maggie. JIM. I've seen 'em do it at double her age. Still, leaving her out, you've two. HOBSON. One'll do for a start, Jim. (_Crosses to_ R.) It's a thing I've noticed about wenches. Get one wedding in a family and it goes through the lot like measles. (_Moves round chair to up_ R.) JIM. Well, you want a man, and you want him temperance. It'll cost you a bit, you know. (_Sits in chair below_ L. _side of counter_.) HOBSON (_going to him_). Eh? Oh, I'll get my hand down for the wedding all right. JIM. A warm man like you 'ull have to do more than that. There's things called settlements. HOBSON. Settlements? JIM. Aye. You've to bait your hook to catch fish, Henry. HOBSON. Then I'll none go fishing. (_Sits_.) JIM. But you said-- HOBSON. I've changed my mind. I'd a fancy for a bit of peace, but there's luxuries a man can buy too dear. Settlements indeed! JIM. I had a man in mind. HOBSON. You keep him there, Jim. I'll rub along and chance it. Settlements indeed! JIM. You save their keep. HOBSON. They work for that. And they're none of them big eaters. JIM. And their wages. HOBSON. Wages? Do you think I pay wages to my own daughters? (_Rises and goes to desk_ L.) I'm not a fool. JIM. Then it's all off? (_Rises_.) HOBSON (_turns_). From the moment that you breathed the word "settlements" it was dead off, Jim. Let's go to the "Moonraker's" and forget there's such a thing as women in the world. (_He takes up hat and rings bell on counter_.) Shop! Shop! (MAGGIE _enters from_ R.) I'm going out, Maggie. MAGGIE (_She remains by door_). Dinner's at one, remember. HOBSON. Dinner will be when I come in for it. I'm master here. (_Moves to go_.) MAGGIE. Yes, father. One o'clock. HOBSON (_disgusted_.) Come along, Jim. (JIM _and_ HOBSON _go out to street_. MAGGIE _turns to speak inside_ R. _door_.) MAGGIE. Dinner at half-past one, girls. We'll give him half an hour. (_She closes door, turns arm-chair facing C. and moves to trap, which she raises_.) Willie, come here. (_In a moment_ WILLIE _appears, and stops half-way up_.) WILLIE. Yes, Miss Maggie? MAGGIE (L. _of trap_.) Come up, and put the trap down, I want to talk to you. (_He comes, reluctantly_.) WILLIE. We're very busy in the cellar. (MAGGIE _points to trap. He closes it_.) MAGGIE. Show me your hands, Willie.