[_A silence. COLIN and GWEN are hung in mid-air, as it were; while MR. FREEMAN becomes more and more manifestly oppressed with their presence._ COLIN: ... Well, I must be getting along. MR. FREEMAN (_jumping at this_): I’m sorry I can’t ask you to stay. I’ve got some particular business to discuss with my son. COLIN: Oh, of course. (_He hesitates awkwardly a moment, and then says, low, to GWEN:_) Will you come and have dinner to-night? GWEN: Yes. MR. FREEMAN (_catching this_): What’s that? COLIN: I was asking your daughter if she’d dine with me to-night. MR. FREEMAN: I’m afraid I can’t allow it. GWEN: Father! MR. FREEMAN: _That’s enough!_... You’ve been out with Mr. Mackenzie six times this week. I’m sure Mr. Mackenzie’s man-of-the-world enough to realise that’s unusual. GWEN: I’m over twenty-one. MR. FREEMAN: I can’t help that. You’re in my house; under my charge. [_JOHN comes in._ Come in. I’ve just had to put my foot down. I’ve forbidden your sister to go out with Mr. Mackenzie. JOHN: Forbidden! MR. FREEMAN: Yes. _Forbidden!_ If I don’t take a strong line, goodness knows where we shall get to. You young people think you can play highty-tighty just as you please.... As I say, I’ve no wish to be offensive to Mr. Mackenzie. It’s very good of him to spend so much time on her.... Every now and again. Yes. Of course. But six times a week! The thing becomes ridiculous. (_To COLIN._) I hope you understand my position. COLIN: I think perhaps you don’t quite understand _my_ position. I have asked your daughter to marry me. MR. FREEMAN: This is the first I’ve heard of it. COLIN: I only asked her a few minutes ago. MR. FREEMAN: Well, of course, this does rather alter the aspect of things.... I don’t know what to say; ’pon my word, you’ve rather taken the wind out of my sails ... of course, it’s all got to be considered. I shall want to talk to you ... then, if I approve, and her mother ... the whole thing wants talking over. GWEN (_she is very pale, and her teeth are set_): You needn’t talk it over, thank you. I’ve made up my mind. MR. FREEMAN: Oh, you have. GWEN: Yes. I’ve told him I won’t marry him yet. But I’ve told him I’ll go away with him; and we can get married later; when I know what I’m doing; if we want to. MR. FREEMAN (_blankly_): You told him you’d go away with him! GWEN: Yes. MR. FREEMAN: I don’t understand! What d’you mean? GWEN: What I said: I told him I’d go away with him. I’ll marry him afterwards when I’m sure. JOHN (_almost to himself_): Gwen! That’s good! MR. FREEMAN (_turning fiercely on him_): GOOD!!! What the devil do you mean--_good_?!!! Really, I don’t know whether I’m on my head or my heels! (_To COLIN._) What have _you_ got to do with this? COLIN (_taken aback_): Me? MR. FREEMAN: Is this the result of six dinners with you? COLIN (_trying to be dignified_): Certainly not.