SIMON (_eagerly_). Have you noticed that? Mary Rose has noticed it too. That is my inner man coming out. (_Carefully._) To some young people marriage is a thing to be entered on lightly, but that is not my style. What I want is to give up larks, and all that, and insure my life, and read the political articles. (_Further knocking from above reminds him of something else._) Yes, and I promise you it won’t be like losing a daughter but like gaining a son. MRS. MORLAND. Did Mary Rose tell you to say that? SIMON (_guiltily_). Well-- (_Tap, tap._) Oh, another thing, I should consider it well worth being married to Mary Rose just to have you, Mrs. Morland, for a mother-in-law. MR. MORLAND (_pleased_). Well said, Simon; I like you the better for that. MRS. MORLAND (_a demon_). Did she tell you to say that also? SIMON. Well-- At any rate, never shall I forget the respect and affection I owe to the parents of my beloved wife. MR. MORLAND. She is not your wife yet, you know. SIMON (_handsomely_). No, she isn’t. But can she be? Mrs. Morland, can she be? MRS. MORLAND. That is as may be, Simon. It is only a possible engagement that we are discussing at present. SIMON. Yes, yes, of course. (_Becoming more difficult to resist as his reason goes._) I used to be careless about money, but I have thought of a trick of writing the word Economy in the inside of my watch, so that I’ll see it every time I wind up. My people---- MR. MORLAND. We like them, Simon. (_The tapping is resumed._) SIMON. I don’t know whether you have noticed a sound from up above? MR. MORLAND. I did think I heard something. SIMON. That is Mary Rose in the apple-room. MRS. MORLAND. No! SIMON. Yes; she is doing that to help me. I promised to knock back as soon as I thought things were going well. What do you say? May I? (_He gives them an imploring look, and mounts a chair, part of a fishing rod in his hand._) MR. MORLAND (_an easy road in sight_). I think, Fanny, he might? MRS. MORLAND (_braver_). No. (_Tremulously._) There is a little thing, Simon, that Mary Rose’s father and I feel we ought to tell you about her before--before you knock, my dear. It is not very important, I think, but it is something she doesn’t know of herself, and it makes her a little different from other girls. SIMON (_alighting--sharply_). I won’t believe anything against Mary Rose. MRS. MORLAND. We have nothing to tell you against her. MR. MORLAND. It is just something that happened, Simon. She couldn’t help it. It hasn’t troubled us in the least for years, but we always agreed that she mustn’t be engaged before we told the man. We must have your promise, before we tell you, that you will keep it to yourself. SIMON (_frowning_). I promise. MRS. MORLAND. You must never speak of it even to her. SIMON. Not to Mary Rose? I wish you would say quickly what it is. (_They are now sitting round the little table._)