Allen. Have summat to drink. (_Clara crosses l. Both men laugh, each in his own distinctive way. Dex. turns l. and catches Clara’s face._) There be some rare old whiskey in the library. Thee’ll find it on the sideboard--(_Dex. goes up c._)--and it be more comfortable like in there than here. I’ll just go and finish making myself beautiful. (_Crosses to l._) Clara. Don’t be too long. (_Crossing and sitting L.c._) Allen. (_Laughing._) No, it oughtn’t to take me long to--(_Dex. has his back to them, wine business at table r.c._)--do that, ought it? (_Goes to l. door down stage. Laughs, and then low to Clara as he is going._) I am not likely to stop upstairs long when I know thee’s downstairs. Clara. Go away, go away. (_Exit Allen down stage l. Bus. She kisses her hand._) Dex. And I suppose you will go and throw this chance away, like you have every other. Clara. Well, what if I do? (_Rises, crosses it._) Dex. What if you do? What are we to live on? (_Goes to Clara l._) Clara. Gulls, I suppose--as we always have done. Dex. Yes, and is it pleasant living? Is it pleasant to have to slave and trick for every dinner? Is it pleasant to be kicked--sooner or later--out of every society one goes into? (_Coming close and speaking low._) Was it pleasant to be buried for two years in that God-forsaken hole by Exmoor, not daring to show our heads above ground for a moment? You’ve got a fine chance of being respectable now. Clara. Too late, I’m afraid, though. Dex. (_r. c._) Too late? Clara. Yes--you see, papa, dear, you haven’t exactly brought me up in that way, and I’m afraid I’m too old to learn now. I don’t think I should be quite at home as the wife of a piously brought up young man from the country. (_Leans back--laughs._) Dex. And so you’re going to let six thousand a year slip through your fingers. It’s wicked--it’s wicked. Clara. (_Laughs--rises._) Well, it hasn’t slipped through my fingers just at present, it is sticking to them pretty freely. (_Crosses to R.--Dex is c.--toys with ring._) Dex. (_Goes to table r.c._) And how long do you think he will stand you playing with him? Clara. Oh, a good long while yet. (_Goes up._) Dex. (_Puts hat on table r.c._) That’s just where you’re making a mistake then. He’s not a fool. He’ll want an answer, “Yes,” or “No,” soon, and what are you going to say then? Clara. (_Looking out of window._) No. (_Looking into fireplace r._) Dex. (_After a pause--violently._) Luke Cranbourne’s at the bottom of this. What devil’s game is it that’s going on between you and him? (_Loudly._) Clara. I do wish you wouldn’t drink when you’re coming out anywhere, it always makes you so noisy. (_At glass._) Dex. (_Violently._) Take care, Clara--you seem to forget I’m your father. Clara. (_Coldly._) The relationship was none of my seeking. Whatever responsibility attaches to the unfortunate--(_moves near Dex._)--occurrence is not mine. Dex. (_l. making movement as if to strike her._) Clara.