BROXOPP. Must. Got to work, Jack. (_Looking at him mischievously_) When are you going to begin? JACK (_airily_). Oh, as soon as I’ve got the studio fixed up. BROXOPP. You still want to be an artist? JACK. Well, dash it, I’ve only just begun wanting. You’ve had twenty-five years of Broxopp’s Beans—and—and I suppose you still want to go on, don’t you? BROXOPP (_smiling_). Well, that’s true. Where’s my hat? JACK. I say, never mind about that beastly hat. You’ve got to stay at home this morning. I want to talk to you. BROXOPP (_looking up from his search_). Hullo, boy, what’s the matter? JACK. I say, do sit down—I keep losing sight of you. (_BROXOPP sits down obediently._) That’s better. BROXOPP. Well? JACK (_defensively_). Well? BROXOPP. What’s happened? JACK. What do you mean—happened? BROXOPP. Well, what is it you want to tell me? JACK. I didn’t say I wanted to tell you anything. I just said, “Let’s have a talk.” I don’t see why a father and a son shouldn’t have a little talk together sometimes. BROXOPP. Neither do I, Jack. Only I thought perhaps it wasn’t done. Bad form and all that. JACK. Oh, rot! BROXOPP. You see, I don’t want you to be ashamed of me. JACK (_uneasily_). I say, I wish you wouldn’t talk like that. BROXOPP. Oh, but I mean it. You see, I’m very proud of _you_, Jack. JACK (_with a smile_). You’re much prouder of your blessed beans, aren’t you? Own up. BROXOPP. Well, you were born about the same time, but I’ve always had more control over the beans. JACK (_nervously_). You know, I rather wonder sometimes, now that we’ve decided that I’m not going into the business, that you don’t chuck it yourself, and retire into the country. It’s worth a good bit, I should think, if you did want to sell it. BROXOPP. Would you invest the money for me? JACK (_with a smile_). Well, I own I had a bit of rotten luck last time, but I daresay I’d do it as well as you would. BROXOPP. That’s not saying much. I don’t profess to watch the markets. JACK. Neither do I, only young Archie happened to say that he’d heard from a man whose uncle knew a fellow who—— Well, it just didn’t come off, that’s all. But Sir Roger knows all about that sort of thing. He’d do it for you. BROXOPP. Well, if I ever do want to sell it, I daresay I’ll consult Sir Roger, but that won’t be for a long time yet. (_He gets up_) Well—— JACK (jumping up hastily). No, look here, you mustn’t go yet. We’ve only just begun to talk. (_Pushing him back into his chair_) That’s right. BROXOPP (_good-humouredly_). Is this a conspiracy to keep me away from the office, or what? JACK (_plunging at it_). Dad, you see before you the happiest man in the world—— BROXOPP (_surprised_). Oh! JACK. Only, it’s dashed difficult. (_Having another shot_) What do you think Mother’s doing at this moment? BROXOPP. Just what I’ve been wondering. I wanted her in here. JACK. Yes, well, she’s upstairs, introducing herself to her future daughter-in-law. BROXOPP. Jack! Who?