My dear Jane, how can a woman possibly be independent whose income comes out of selling hats? The only form of independence that is possible or desirable for a woman is that she shall be dependent upon her husband or, if she is unmarried, on her nearest male relative. I am sure _you_ agree with me, Harriet? MRS. CLOUSTON Quite, Hugo. DE MULLIN Very well. I will speak to her about it at once. MRS. DE MULLIN _(nervously)_ I hardly think I would say anything about it to-day, Hugo. DE MULLIN Why not, Jane? MRS. DE MULLIN Well, she seems nervous and irritable to-day. I think I should put it off for a day or two. DE MULLIN _(testily)_ My dear Jane, you are always procrastinating. If such an arrangement is to be made the sooner it is made the better. _(Goes to window, c., calls)_ Janet my dear. Janet. [_Pause. Then Janet appears at window, c._ JANET Did you call me, father? DE MULLIN Yes. Come to me for a moment. I want to speak to you. _(De Mullin wanders undecidedly to the fireplace. A moment later Janet enters from the garden.)_ Is Johnny with you? JANET No. He’s having tea with Ellen. I said he might. [_Pause. Janet comes down._ DE MULLIN Janet, your mother and I have been talking over your future. JANET Have you, father? [_With a quick glance at her mother. Mrs. De Mullin, however, makes no sign._ DE MULLIN Yes. We have come to the conclusion that it would be better for you to come back here to live. [_Janet faces round towards her father._ JANET But what would become of the business? DE MULLIN You will have to give up the business, of course. So much the better. You never ought to have gone into it. It was not at all a suitable occupation for you. JANET But I like it, father. MRS. CLOUSTON _Like_ it! A De Mullin _like_ keeping a shop! Impossible. JANET _(firmly)_ Yes, Aunt Harriet, I like it. And I’m proud of it. DE MULLIN _(sharply)_ Nonsense, Janet. Nobody can possibly be proud of keeping a shop. JANET _I_ am. I made it, you see. It’s my child, like Johnny. DE MULLIN _(amazed)_ JANET! Do you understand what you’re doing? I offer you the chance of returning to Brendon to live as my daughter. JANET _(indifferently)_ I quite understand, father. And I’m much obliged for the offer. Only I decline it. That’s all. MRS. CLOUSTON Really! DE MULLIN _(with dignity)_ The question is, are you to be allowed to decline it, in Johnny’s interests if not your own? JANET Johnny’s? DE MULLIN Yes. Johnny’s. As long as he was a child it made little difference where he was brought up. Relatively little that is. Now he is getting to an age when early associations are all-important. Living here at Brendon in the home of his ancestors he will grow up worthy of the race from which he is descended. He will be a true De Mullin. JANET _(quietly)_ Perhaps I don’t want him to be a true De Mullin, father. DE MULLIN What do you mean? JANET