LITMIR.BIZ

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BUILDER. The girls haven't wanted to go to church for years. They've always said they didn't see why they should go to keep up your position. I don't know if you remember that you once caned them for running off on a Sunday morning.

      BUILDER. Well?

      MRS BUILDER. They've never had any religion since.

      BUILDER. H'm! [He takes a short turn up the room] What's to be done about Athene?

      MRS BUILDER. You said you had done with her.

      BUILDER. You know I didn't mean that. I might just as well have said I'd done with you! Apply your wits, Julia! At any moment this thing may come out. In a little town like this you can keep nothing dark. How can I take this nomination for Mayor?

      MRS BUILDER. Perhaps Ralph could help.

      BUILDER. What? His daughters have never done anything disgraceful, and his wife's a pattern.

      MRS BUILDER. Yes; Ralph isn't at all a family man.

      BUILDER. [Staring at her] I do wish you wouldn't turn things upside down in that ironical way. It isn't—English.

      MRS BUILDER. I can't help having been born in Jersey.

      BUILDER. No; I suppose it's in your blood. The French— [He stops short].

      MRS BUILDER. Yes?

      BUILDER. Very irritating sometimes to a plain Englishman—that's all.

      MRS BUILDER. Shall I get rid of Camille?

      BUILDER. [Staring at her, then dropping his glance] Camille? What's she got to do with it?

      MRS BUILDER. I thought perhaps you found her irritating.

      BUILDER. Why should I?

      CAMILLE comes in from the dining-room with the coffee.

      Put it there. I want some brandy, please.

      CAMILLE. I bring it, Monsieur.

      She goes back demurely into the dining-room.

      BUILDER. Topping's got toothache, poor chap! [Pouring out the coffee] Can't you suggest any way of making Athene see reason? Think of the example! Maud will be kicking over next. I shan't be able to hold my head up here.

      MRS BUILDER. I'm afraid I can't do that for you.

      BUILDER. [Exasperated] Look here, Julia! That wretched girl said something to me about our life together. What—what's the matter with that?

      MRS BUILDER. It is irritating.

      BUILDER. Be explicit.

      MRS BUILDER. We have lived together twenty-three years, John. No talk will change such things.

      BUILDER. Is it a question of money? You can always have more. You know that. [MRS BUILDER smiles] Oh! don't smile like that; it makes me feel quite sick!

      CAMILLE enters with a decanter and little glasses, from the dining-room.

      CAMILLE. The brandy, sir. Monsieur Ralph Builder has just come.

      MRS BUILDER. Ask him in, Camille.

      CAMILLE. Yes, Madame.

      She goes through the doorway into the hall. MRS BUILDER, following towards the door, meets RALPH BUILDER, a man rather older than BUILDER and of opposite build and manner. He has a pleasant, whimsical face and grizzled hair.

      MRS BUILDER. John wants to consult you, Ralph.

      RALPH. That's very gratifying.

      She passes him and goes out, leaving the two brothers eyeing one another.

      About the Welsh contract?

      BUILDER. No. Fact is, Ralph, something very horrible's happened.

      RALPH. Athene gone and got married?

      BUILDER. No. It's—it's that she's gone and—and not got married.

      RALPH utters a sympathetic whistle.

      Jolly, isn't it?

      RALPH. To whom?

      BUILDER. A young flying bounder.

      RALPH. And why?

      BUILDER. Some crazy rubbish about family life, of all things.

      RALPH. Athene's a most interesting girl. All these young people are so queer and delightful.

      BUILDER. By George, Ralph, you may thank your stars you haven't got a delightful daughter. Yours are good, decent girls.

      RALPH. Athene's tremendously good and decent, John. I'd bet any money she's doing this on the highest principles.

      BUILDER. Behaving like a—

      RALPH. Don't say what you'll regret, old man! Athene always took things seriously—bless her!

      BUILDER. Julia thinks you might help. You never seem to have any domestic troubles.

      RALPH. No—o. I don't think we do.

      BUILDER. How d'you account for it?

      RALPH. I must ask at home.

      BUILDER. Dash it! You must know!

      RALPH. We're all fond of each other.

      BUILDER. Well, I'm fond of my girls too; I suppose I'm not amiable enough. H'm?

      RALPH. Well, old man, you do get blood to the head. But what's Athene's point, exactly?

      BUILDER. Family life isn't idyllic, so she thinks she and the young man oughtn't to have one.

      RALPH. I see. Home experience?

      BUILDER. Hang it all, a family's a family! There must be a head.

      RALPH. But no tail, old chap.

      BUILDER. You don't let your women folk do just as they like?

      RALPH. Always.

      BUILDER. What happens if one of your girls wants to do an improper thing? [RALPH shrugs his shoulders]. You don't stop her?

      RALPH. Do you?

      BUILDER. I try to.

      RALPH. Exactly. And she does it. I don't and she doesn't.

      BUILDER. [With a short laugh] Good Lord! I suppose you'd have me eat humble pie and tell Athene she can go on living in sin and offending society, and have my blessing to round it off.

      RALPH. I think if you did she'd probably marry him.

      BUILDER. You've never tested your theory, I'll bet.

      RALPH. Not yet.

      BUILDER. There you are.

      RALPH. The 'suaviter in modo' pays, John. The times are not what they were.

      BUILDER. Look here! I want to get to the bottom of this. Do you tell me I'm any stricter than nine out of ten men?

      RALPH. Only in practice.

      BUILDER. [Puzzled] How do you mean?

      RALPH. Well, you profess the principles of liberty, but you practise the principles of government.

      BUILDER. H'm! [Taking up the decanter] Have some?

      RALPH. No, thank you.

      BUILDER fills and raises his glass.

      CAMILLE. [Entering] Madame left her coffee.

      She comes forward, holds out a cup for BUILDER to pour into, takes it and goes out. BUILDER'S glass remains suspended. He drinks the brandy off as she shuts the door.

      BUILDER. Life isn't all roses, Ralph.

      RALPH. Sorry, old man.

      BUILDER. I sometimes think I try myself too high. Well, about that Welsh contract?

      RALPH. Let's take it.

      BUILDER. If you'll attend to it. Frankly, I'm too upset.

      As they go towards the door into the hall, MAUD comes in from the dining-room, in hat and coat.

      RALPH. [Catching sight of her] Hallo! All well

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