TARLETON. Yes, yes. All right, Chickabiddy: dont fuss. Your precious Johnny shant be interfered with. _[Bouncing up, too energetic to sit still]_ But I'm getting sick of that old shop. Thirty-five years Ive had of it: same blessed old stairs to go up and down every day: same old lot: same old game: sorry I ever started it now. I'll chuck it and try something else: something that will give a scope to all my faculties. HYPATIA. Theres money in underwear: theres none in wild-cat ideas. TARLETON. Theres money in me, madam, no matter what I go into. MRS TARLETON. Dont boast, John. Dont tempt Providence. TARLETON. Rats! You dont understand Providence. Providence likes to be tempted. Thats the secret of the successful man. Read Browning. Natural theology on an island, eh? Caliban was afraid to tempt Providence: that was why he was never able to get even with Prospero. What did Prospero do? Prospero didnt even tempt Providence: he was Providence. Thats one of Tarleton's ideas; and dont you forget it. BENTLEY. You are full of beef today, old man. TARLETON. Beef be blowed! Joy of life. Read Ibsen. _[He goes into the pavilion to relieve his restlessness, and stares out with his hands thrust deep in his pockets]._ HYPATIA. _[thoughtful]_ Bentley: couldnt you invite your friend Mr Percival down here? BENTLEY. Not if I know it. Youd throw me over the moment you set eyes on him. MRS TARLETON. Oh, Bunny! For shame! BENTLEY. Well, who'd marry me, dyou suppose, if they could get my brains with a full-sized body? No, thank you. I shall take jolly good care to keep Joey out of this until Hypatia is past praying for. _Johnny and Lord Summerhays return through the pavilion from their stroll._ TARLETON. Welcome! welcome! Why have you stayed away so long? LORD SUMMERHAYS. _[shaking hands]_ Yes: I should have come sooner. But I'm still rather lost in England. _[Johnny takes his hat and hangs it up beside his own]._ Thank you. _[Johnny returns to his swing and his novel. Lord Summerhays comes to the writing table]._ The fact is that as Ive nothing to do, I never have time to go anywhere. _[He sits down next Mrs Tarleton]._ TARLETON. _[following him and sitting down on his left]_ Paradox, paradox. Good. Paradoxes are the only truths. Read Chesterton. But theres lots for you to do here. You have a genius for government. You learnt your job out there in Jinghiskahn. Well, we want to be governed here in England. Govern us.