MR. FREEMAN: I suppose I can believe my ears. You heard what she said ... she’s already made this outrageous suggestion to you. COLIN: Yes. MR. FREEMAN: After any encouragement from you? COLIN: No. MR. FREEMAN: Do I understand then that you propose to behave like a gentleman? COLIN: I’m not quite certain how a gentleman would behave under the circumstances. MR. FREEMAN: I’m sorry to hear that. COLIN: Well, how would _you_ behave? MR. FREEMAN: Me? COLIN: Yes. Supposing when you were single, the girl you loved, out of a sort of access of social duty, had proposed a sort of trial trip before you were---- MR. FREEMAN: Social fiddle-sticks! When I was a young man the thing was unthinkable. GWEN}: But Father!---- } JOHN}: When you were young, but---- MR. FREEMAN (_turning on his children and shouting_): I _will_ not argue. COLIN: I don’t want to argue either; but I think you might answer my question. What would you do in my place? MR. FREEMAN: Do! Why, good God, sir, I should tell her to go to the devil. COLIN: I’m rather thinking of telling her to do that. MR. FREEMAN: I’m glad to hear it. COLIN: Only if she does, I suppose I shall go with her. [_A very tiny suspicion of a laugh from JOHN is immediately quashed._ MR. FREEMAN: _Stop that noise!_ Is your sister’s _shame_ a laughing matter to you? JOHN (_dangerously_): _Shame?!_ MR. FREEMAN: Yes; that’s what I said--_shame_. It’s time there was a little plain-speaking in this house!! I don’t know what’s come over you; both of you. You think you can treat us just as you like; push us on one side; me, and your mother, and the family; the traditions; trample on everything we hold sacred. You can’t. [_The two stand silent, while he looses his wrath against them. To JOHN:_ You think you can break faith just as you will: you can’t; you throw over the girl you’ve been engaged to since you were children; and the same with the business; and never a word ’till this afternoon ... and now this ... this cruel, insane, folly of Gwen’s. A cruel, thoughtless, insane _wickedness_ that I never thought I should find in a child of mine. Have you no thought for others--either of you? No consideration? (_To JOHN._) You’re lazy; that’s what’s the matter with you. No aim in life. No desire to get on. Dog lazy. And you. (_He turns on his daughter._) You’re worse. Are you mad? or are you wanton? You seem to have no thought but for your own pleasure---- JOHN (_going off suddenly, like a bomb_): BE QUIET!!!! MR. FREEMAN: What the devil? JOHN: I shall lose my temper in a moment. MR. FREEMAN: Lose your temper? JOHN: Yes. I have lost it. I’ve lost it now!! How _dare_ you talk like that? _How dare you?!?!_ MR. FREEMAN (_shouting_): John! JOHN (_refusing to be stopped_): It’s no good. It’s got to come out now. _You_, who sat at home here in comfort all those five years of hell. MR. FREEMAN (_bewildered_): Sat at home!