[HIPPANTHIGH _goes by the window with a mournful face._ ERMYNTRUDE _runs to the window and watches him till he is out of sight. She quietly waves her hand to_ HIPPANTHIGH, _unseen by her father._ SLADDER: O, he meant it all right. He meant it. I'm sorry for that bishop of his that he quarrels with, if he lets him have it the way he went for your poor old father. O, dear me; dear me. ERMYNTRUDE: I don't think he quarrels with him, father. I think he only insists that there can be no such thing as eternal punishment. I think that's rather nice of him. SLADDER: I don't care a damn about eternal punishment one way or the other. But a man who quarrels with the head of his firm's a fool. If his bishop's keen on hell, he should push hell for all it's worth. ERMYNTRUDE: Y-e-s, I suppose he should. But, father, aren't you glad that my mice have eaten the new cheese? I thought you'd be glad, father. SLADDER: So I am, child. So I am. Only I don't feel quite so glad as I thought I was going to, now. I don't know why. He seems to have stroked me the wrong way somehow. ERMYNTRUDE: You said you'd give me whatever I liked. SLADDER: And so I will, child. So I will. A motor if you like, with chauffeur and footman complete. We can buy anything now, and I wouldn't grudge---- ERMYNTRUDE: I don't want a motor, father. SLADDER: What would you like to have? ERMYNTRUDE: O, nothing, father, nothing. Only about that duke, father---- SLADDER: What duke, Ermyntrude? ERMYNTRUDE: Mother said you wanted me to marry a duke some day, father. SLADDER: Well? ERMYNTRUDE: Well I--er--I don't think I quite want to, father. SLADDER: Ah! Quite so. Quite so. Quite so. And who _did_ you think of marrying? ERMYNTRUDE: O, father. SLADDER: Well? (ERMYNTRUDE _is silent._) When I was his age, I had to work hard for my living. ERMYNTRUDE: O, father. How do you know what age he is? SLADDER: O, I guessed he was 82, going to be 83 next birthday. But I daresay I know nothing of the world. I daresay I may have been wrong. ERMYNTRUDE: O, father, he's young. SLADDER: Dear me, you don't say so. Dear me, you do surprise me. Well, well, well, well. We do live and learn. Don't we? And what might his name be now? ERMYNTRUDE: It's Mr. Hippanthigh, father. SLADDER: O-o-o! It's Mr. Hippanthigh, is it? O-ho, O-ho! (_He touches a movable bell, shouting_ "SPLURGE!" _To his daughter or rather to himself._) We'll see Mr. Hippanthigh. ERMYNTRUDE: What are you going to do, father? SLADDER: We'll see Mr. Hippanthigh. (_Enter_ SPLURGE.) Splurge, run after Mr. Hippanthigh and bring him back. Say I've got something to say to him. He's gone that way. Quick! SPLURGE: Yes, sir. [_Exit._ SLADDER: I've got something to say to _him_ this time. ERMYNTRUDE: Father! What are you going to do? SLADDER: I'm going to give him What For. ERMYNTRUDE: But why, father? SLADDER: Because he's been giving it to your poor old father. ERMYNTRUDE: Father---- SLADDER: Well?