MRS. CLANDON. No, Dolly, I would not. As a matter of fact the first officer did propose to me; and I told him to keep that sort of thing for women were young enough to be amused by it. He appears to have acted on my advice. (She rises and goes to the hearth.) Gloria: I am sorry you think me weak; but I cannot tell you what you want. You are all too young. PHILIP. This is rather a startling departure from Twentieth Century principles. DOLLY (quoting). "Answer all your children's questions, and answer them truthfully, as soon as they are old enough to ask them." See Twentieth Century Motherhood-- PHILIP. Page one-- DOLLY. Chapter one-- PHILIP. Sentence one. MRS. CLANDON. My dears: I did not say that you were too young to know. I said you were too young to be taken into my confidence. You are very bright children, all of you; but I am glad for your sakes that you are still very inexperienced and consequently very unsympathetic. There are some experiences of mine that I cannot bear to speak of except to those who have gone through what I have gone through. I hope you will never be qualified for such confidences. But I will take care that you shall learn all you want to know. Will that satisfy you? PHILIP. Another grievance, Dolly. DOLLY. We're not sympathetic. GLORIA (leaning forward in her chair and looking earnestly up at her mother). Mother: I did not mean to be unsympathetic. MRS. CLANDON (affectionately). Of course not, dear. Do you think I don't understand? GLORIA (rising). But, mother-- MRS. CLANDON (drawing back a little). Yes? GLORIA (obstinately). It is nonsense to tell us that our father is nothing to us. MRS. CLANDON (provoked to sudden resolution). Do you remember your father? GLORIA (meditatively, as if the recollection were a tender one). I am not quite sure. I think so. MRS. CLANDON (grimly). You are not sure? GLORIA. No. MRS. CLANDON (with quiet force). Gloria: if I had ever struck you-- (Gloria recoils: Philip and Dolly are disagreeably shocked; all three start at her, revolted as she continues)--struck you purposely, deliberately, with the intention of hurting you, with a whip bought for the purpose! Would you remember that, do you think? (Gloria utters an exclamation of indignant repulsion.) That would have been your last recollection of your father, Gloria, if I had not taken you away from him. I have kept him out of your life: keep him now out of mine by never mentioning him to me again. (Gloria, with a shudder, covers her face with her hands, until, hearing someone at the door, she turns away and pretends to occupy herself looking at the names of the books in the bookcase. Mrs. Clandon sits down on the sofa. Valentine returns.). VALENTINE. I hope I've not kept you waiting. That landlord of mine is really an extraordinary old character. DOLLY (eagerly). Oh, tell us. How long has he given you to pay?