LADY BRITOMART. Andrew: this is not a question of our likings and dislikings: it is a question of duty. It is your duty to make Stephen your successor. UNDERSHAFT. Just as much as it is your duty to submit to your husband. Come, Biddy! these tricks of the governing class are of no use with me. I am one of the governing class myself; and it is waste of time giving tracts to a missionary. I have the power in this matter; and I am not to be humbugged into using it for your purposes. LADY BRITOMART. Andrew: you can talk my head off; but you can't change wrong into right. And your tie is all on one side. Put it straight. UNDERSHAFT [disconcerted] It won't stay unless it's pinned [he fumbles at it with childish grimaces]-- Stephen comes in. STEPHEN [at the door] I beg your pardon [about to retire]. LADY BRITOMART. No: come in, Stephen. [Stephen comes forward to his mother's writing table.] UNDERSHAFT [not very cordially] Good afternoon. STEPHEN [coldly] Good afternoon. UNDERSHAFT [to Lady Britomart] He knows all about the tradition, I suppose? LADY BRITOMART. Yes. [To Stephen] It is what I told you last night, Stephen. UNDERSHAFT [sulkily] I understand you want to come into the cannon business. STEPHEN. _I_ go into trade! Certainly not. UNDERSHAFT [opening his eyes, greatly eased in mind and manner] Oh! in that case--! LADY BRITOMART. Cannons are not trade, Stephen. They are enterprise. STEPHEN. I have no intention of becoming a man of business in any sense. I have no capacity for business and no taste for it. I intend to devote myself to politics. UNDERSHAFT [rising] My dear boy: this is an immense relief to me. And I trust it may prove an equally good thing for the country. I was afraid you would consider yourself disparaged and slighted. [He moves towards Stephen as if to shake hands with him]. LADY BRITOMART [rising and interposing] Stephen: I cannot allow you to throw away an enormous property like this. STEPHEN [stiffly] Mother: there must be an end of treating me as a child, if you please. [Lady Britomart recoils, deeply wounded by his tone]. Until last night I did not take your attitude seriously, because I did not think you meant it seriously. But I find now that you left me in the dark as to matters which you should have explained to me years ago. I am extremely hurt and offended. Any further discussion of my intentions had better take place with my father, as between one man and another. LADY BRITOMART. Stephen! [She sits down again; and her eyes fill with tears]. UNDERSHAFT [with grave compassion] You see, my dear, it is only the big men who can be treated as children. STEPHEN. I am sorry, mother, that you have forced me--