GRANDMOTHER Quite likely they’d do it by motor. MRS. ROOT [_Rising._] Mother!--how can you say such dreadful things--and just when I have this _trying_ dinner. Oh, I wish Bessie would come! [_Goes to the window._] She is a comfort to me. GRANDMOTHER Where is Bessie? MRS. ROOT She’s away in the motor. [_Again shudders._] Bessie feels dreadfully about her brother. She is trying to do something. She said it would be a surprise--a happy surprise. [_Someone heard in the hall._] Perhaps this is Bessie. [_Enter MR. PEYTON._] Oh, it’s Uncle George. UNCLE GEORGE Early I know. Came to have a little visit with Elizabeth. [_Goes to GRANDMOTHER and shakes hands._] How are you, young woman? GRANDMOTHER My nerves seem to be stronger than the nerves I see around me. And how are you, George? UNCLE GEORGE Oh, I’m _well_. GRANDMOTHER But--? UNCLE GEORGE Responsibilities. GRANDMOTHER The bank? UNCLE GEORGE I’d rather run ten banks than a tenth of a university. You can control money. MRS. ROOT I’m sorry, Uncle George, that Peyton should be adding to your worries. UNCLE GEORGE What’s the matter with Peyton? GRANDMOTHER Wild oats. UNCLE GEORGE Well, I wish he’d sow them in less intellectual fields. MRS. ROOT I am prepared to speak freely with you, Uncle George. The matter with Peyton is this girl. Well, they’re going to be married. Yes [_Answering his gesture of protest_] and I think it’s a good thing. She won’t be in a position to say so much about freedom after she is married. UNCLE GEORGE But they say she’s a gypsy. MRS. ROOT She won’t be a gypsy after she’s Peyton’s wife. She’ll be a married woman. UNCLE GEORGE Yes, but in the meantime we will have swallowed a gypsy. GRANDMOTHER And I was just wondering how it would be about the children. MRS. ROOT Mother, please don’t be indelicate again. [_Pause._ GRANDMOTHER Well, if there’s nothing else we may speak of, let’s talk about free speech. They’re writing a paper on it in there. UNCLE GEORGE I don’t know what this university is coming to! An institution of learning! It isn’t that I don’t believe in free speech. Every true American believes in free speech, but-- [_Slight Pause._ GRANDMOTHER [_With Emphasis._] Certainly. UNCLE GEORGE Ask them to come out here with their paper on free speech. I’ll be glad to give them the benefit of my experience. MRS. ROOT Yes, it will be delightful to all be together. [_She goes to get PEYTON and JHANSI._ GRANDMOTHER This girl doesn’t look to me like one who is thirsting for the benefit of another person’s experience. UNCLE GEORGE She’s a bad influence. She’s leading our young people to criticise the society their fathers have builded up. GRANDMOTHER There’s a great deal of ingratitude in the world. [_MRS. ROOT returns, followed by the two young people._ MRS. ROOT