MR. VOYSEY. Should I be telling you at all if I could possibly help it? Don't I know that you're about as fit for this job as a babe unborn? Haven't I been worrying over that for these last three years? But I'm in a corner . . and I won't see all this work of mine come to smash simply because of your scruples. If you're a son of mine you'll do as I tell you. Hadn't I the same choice to make? . . and this is a safer game for you than it was for me then. D'you suppose I didn't have scruples? If you run away from this, Edward, you're a coward. My father was a coward and he suffered for it to the end of his days. I was sick-nurse to him here more than partner. Good lord! . . of course it's pleasant and comfortable to keep within the law . . then the law will look after you. Otherwise you have to look pretty sharp after yourself. You have to cultivate your own sense of right and wrong; deal your own justice. But that makes a bigger man of you, let me tell you. How easily . . how easily could I have walked out of my father's office and left him to his fate; no one would have blamed me! But I didn't. I thought it my better duty to stay and . . yes, I say it with all reverence . . to take up my cross. Well, I've carried that cross pretty successfully. And what's more, it's made a happy man of me . . a better, stronger man than skulking about in shame and in fear of his life ever made of my poor dear father. [_Relieved at having let out the truth, but doubtful of his wisdom in doing so, he changes his tone._] I don't want what I've been saying to influence you, Edward. You are a free agent . . and you must decide upon your own course of action. Now don't let's discuss the matter any more for the moment. EDWARD _looks at his father with clear eyes_. EDWARD. Don't forget to put these papers away. _He restores them to their bundles and hands them back: it is his only comment._ MR. VOYSEY _takes them and his meaning in silence_. MR. VOYSEY. Are you coming down to Chislehurst soon? We've got Hugh and his wife, and Booth and Emily, and Christopher for two or three days, till he goes back to school. EDWARD. How is Chris? MR. VOYSEY. All right again now . . grows more like his father. Booth's very proud of him. So am I. EDWARD. I think I can't face them all just at present. MR. VOYSEY. Nonsense. EDWARD. [_a little wave of emotion going through him._] I feel as if this thing were written on my face. How I shall get through business I don't know! MR. VOYSEY. You're weaker than I thought, Edward. EDWARD. [_a little ironically._] A disappointment to you, father? MR. VOYSEY. No, no. EDWARD. You should have brought one of the others into the firm . . Trenchard or Booth.