One moment, please, Nathaniel.... I have now arranged that you begin your preparation for your life work immediately. You will leave for Somerset School the day after tomorrow. JONATHAN (_desperately_) Uncle John, I don't want to go to Somerset School. JOHN You will leave for Somerset day after tomorrow. Good night, Jonathan. NATHANIEL Why Somerset? JOHN Good night, Jonathan. [_Jonathan, dazed, goes out._ NATHANIEL Jonathan will never go to Somerset School. JOHN Nathaniel, you forfeited your rights in the family councils when you ran away from home seventeen years ago. NATHANIEL This boy will run away again and again and I mean to save him from what I have suffered, if I can. JOHN Nathaniel, by what right do you attempt to interfere with my decisions? NATHANIEL By the right of blood and understanding. JOHN Blood and understanding? Where were you when Emily had to leave her husband and brought her boy into my home? Where were you when Emily died? I took Emily in and I took her boy in. As head of the family it was my duty to do so and as head of the family it is my duty to see that the boy is brought up in the best traditions of the family. NATHANIEL John, you can't force this boy into a mold. JOHN A boy of fourteen doesn't know his mind.... Do _you_ know what Jonathan wants to be? NATHANIEL Yes, a writer of plays, a theatre director, and an actor. JOHN Imagine!... And I suppose you encouraged him. NATHANIEL No, but I didn't discourage him. The selection was wide enough for him to find some lasting life work. JOHN He never told me he wanted to be an actor. NATHANIEL Oh, my brother, every growing boy has a deep secret wish that he cannot bring himself to disclose! As you know, I always wanted to be a writer, but most of all I wanted to be a left-handed base ball pitcher. And although I'm irretrievably right handed I used to practice--religiously--pitching with my left hand. JOHN That was juvenile foolishness. NATHANIEL Yes, but it was genuine. [_John starts to speak._ What am I now? I am going to tell you, John--by and by. First, we must dispose of the boy. JOHN I shall decide about the boy. NATHANIEL No, John; the boy must decide for himself. JOHN He'd decide to be an actor. NATHANIEL If he did, what of it? JOHN I want members of my family to do useful work. NATHANIEL What _is_ useful work? An actor serves his purpose just as a plumber or lawyer serves his.... The only difference is that all of us are not plumbers or lawyers while all of us _are_ actors. Yes, John, we're all playing something--you are playing at head of the family, I'm-- JOHN Still I do not regard acting as a worth-while or lucrative profession. NATHANIEL