Yes. There he is. He’s playing hide and seek with Ellen.... Now she’s caught him. No, he’s got away. Bravo, Johnny! _(Stands watching intently for a while. Then turns and comes down c.)_ What a fine little fellow it is! A true De Mullin! MRS. DE MULLIN Do you think so, Hugo? DE MULLIN Every inch of him! _(pause, sits c., half to himself)_ If only Janet had been married! MRS. DE MULLIN _(sighs)_ Yes. DE MULLIN _(musing)_ I wonder who the father really was. _(looking up)_ She has never told you, Jane, I suppose? MRS. DE MULLIN _(steadily, without looking up)_ No, Hugo. MRS. CLOUSTON And never will. Nobody was ever so obstinate as Janet. DE MULLIN _(nods sadly)_ JANET always had plenty of will. MRS. CLOUSTON Far too much! [_pause._ MRS. DE MULLIN You’ll quite miss Johnny when he goes away from us, Won’t you, Hugo. DE MULLIN Yes. I never thought I could grow so fond of a child. The house will seem empty without him. MRS. DE MULLIN I shall miss him too. DE MULLIN We shall all miss him. _(pause, thoughtfully)_ I wonder if Janet would leave him with us when she goes back to London? MRS. DE MULLIN Leave him with us? Altogether, you mean? DE MULLIN Yes. MRS. DE MULLIN I’m afraid not, Hugo. In fact, I’m quite sure she would not. She’s so fond of Johnny. DE MULLIN I suppose she wouldn’t _(pause)_. I was greatly shocked at what you told me about her the other day, Harriet. MRS. CLOUSTON About her keeping a shop, you mean? DE MULLIN Yes. And going into partnership with a Miss Higgs or Hicks. It all sounds most discreditable. MRS. CLOUSTON Deplorable. MRS. DE MULLIN _(meekly)_ She had to do something to keep herself, Hugo. DE MULLIN No doubt. Still, it can’t be considered a proper sort of position for my daughter. I think she must give it up at once. MRS. DE MULLIN She would only have to take to something else. DE MULLIN Not necessarily. She might come back here to live with us... with Johnny, of course. Mrs. De. Mullin _(astonished)_ _Live_ with us? DE MULLIN Why not, Jane? MRS. DE MULLIN Well, of course if _you_ think so, Hugo. MRS. CLOUSTON Are you sure you will like to have Janet living at home again, Hugo? DE MULLIN I think it might be the best arrangement. And I shall like to have Johnny here. He’s our only descendant, Harriet, the last of the De Mullins. If you or Jane had had a son it would be different. MRS. CLOUSTON _(sighs)_ Yes. DE MULLIN As it is I don’t see how we can do anything-better than have them both down here--as Jane doesn’t think Janet would part with Johnny. It would be better for Janet too. It would take her away from her present unsatisfactory surroundings. It would give her a position and independence--everything she now lacks. MRS. DE MULLIN I should have thought she was _independent_ now, DE MULLIN _(irritably)_