HORNBLOWER.[Very angry] Really! Is that so? Very well.Now ye're goin' to learn something, an' it's time ye did.D'ye realise that I'm 'very nearly round ye? [He draws a circle slowly in the air] I'm at Uphill, the works are here, here's Longmeadow, here's the Centry that I've just bought, there's only the Common left to give ye touch with the world.Now between you and the Common there's the high road.
I come out on the high road here to your north, and I shall come out on it there to your west.When I've got me new works up on the Centry, I shall be makin' a trolley track between the works up to the road at both ends, so any goods will be running right round ye.
How'll ye like that for a country place?
[For answer HILLCRIST, who is angry beyond the power of speech, walks, forgetting to use his stick, up to the French window.
While he stands there, with his back to HORNBLOWER, the door L.
is flung open, and Jim enters, preceding CHARLES, his wife CHLOE, and ROLF.CHARLES is a goodish-looking, moustached young man of about twenty-eight, with a white rim to the collar of his waistcoat, and spats.He has his hand behind CHLOE'Sback, as if to prevent her turning tail.She is rather a handsome young woman, with dark eyes, full red lips, and a suspicion of powder, a little under-dressed for the country.
ROLF, mho brings up the rear, is about twenty, with an open face and stiffish butter-coloured hair.JILL runs over to her father at the window.She has a bottle.
JILL.[Sotto voce] Look, Dodo, I've brought the lot! Isn't it a treat, dear Papa? And here's the stuff.Hallo!
[The exclamation is induced by the apprehension that there has been a row.HILLCRIST gives a stiff little bow, remaining where he is in the window.JILL, stays close to him, staring from one to the other, then blocks him off and engages him in conversation.CHARLES has gone up to his father, who has remained maliciously still, where he delivered his last speech.
CHLOE and ROLF stand awkwardly waiting between the fireplace and the door.]
HORNBLOWER.Well, Chearlie?
CHARLES.Not got it.
HORNBLOWER.Not!
CHARLES.I'd practically got her to say she'd sell at three thousand five hundred, when that fellow Dawker turned up.
HORNBLOWER.That bull-terrier of a chap! Why, he was here a while ago.Oh--ho! So that's it!
CHARLES.I heard him gallop up.He came straight for the old lady, and got her away.What he said I don't know; but she came back looking wiser than an owl; said she'd think it over, thought she had other views.
HORNBLOWER.Did ye tell her she might have her price?
CHARLES.Practically I did.
HORNBLOWER.Well?
CHARLES.She thought it would be fairer to put it up to auction.
There were other enquiries.Oh! She's a leery old bird--reminds me of one of those pictures of Fate, don't you know.
HORNBLOWER.Auction! Well, if it's not gone we'll get it yet.
That damned little Dawker! I've had a row with Hillcrist.
CHARLES.I thought so.
[They are turning cautiously to look at HILLCRIST, when JILLsteps forward.]
JILL.[Flushed and determined] That's not a bit sporting of you, Mr.Hornblower.
[At her words ROLE comes forward too.]
HORNBLOWER.Ye should hear both sides before ye say that, missy.
JILL.There isn't another side to turning out the Jackmans after you'd promised.
HORNBLOWER.Oh! dear me, yes.They don't matter a row of gingerbread to the schemes I've got for betterin' this neighbourhood.
JILL.I had been standing up for you; now I won't.
HOUNBLOWER.Dear, dear! What'll become of me?
JILL.I won't say anything about the other thing because I think it's beneath, dignity to notice it.But to turn poor people out of their cottages is a shame.
HORNBLOWER.Hoity me!
ROLF.[Suddenly] You haven't been doing that, father?
CHARLES.Shut up, Rolf!
HORNBLOWER.[Turning on ROLF] Ha! Here's a league o' Youth! My young whipper-snapper, keep your mouth shut and leave it to your elders to know what's right.
[Under the weight of this rejoinder ROLF stands biting his lips.Then he throws his head up.]
ROLF.I hate it!
HORNBLOWER.[With real venom] Oh! Ye hate it? Ye can get out of my house, then.
JILL.Free speech, Mr.Hornblower; don't be violent.
HORNBLOWER.Ye're right, young lady.Ye can stay in my house, Rolf, and learn manners.Come, Chearlie!
JILL.[Quite softly] Mr.Hornblower!
HILLCRIST.[From the window] Jill!
JILL.[Impatiently] Well, what's the good of it? Life's too short for rows, and too jolly!
ROLF.Bravo!
HORNBLOWER.[Who has shown a sign of weakening] Now, look here!
I will not have revolt in my family.Ye'll just have to learn that a man who's worked as I have, who's risen as I have, and who knows the world, is the proper judge of what's right and wrong.I'll answer to God for me actions, and not to you young people.
JILL.Poor God!
HORNBLOWER.[Genuinely shocked] Ye blasphemous young thing! [To ROLF] And ye're just as bad, ye young freethinker.I won't have it.
HILLCRIST.[Who has come down, Right] Jill, I wish you would kindly not talk.
JILL.I can't help it.
CHARLES.[Putting his arm through HORNBLOWER'S] Come along, father! Deeds, not words.
HORNBLOWER.Ay!, Deeds!
[MRS.HILLCRIST and DAWKERS have entered by the French window.]
MRS.H.Quite right!
[They all turn and look at her.]
HORNBLOWER.Ah! So ye put your dog on to it.[He throws out his finger at DAWKERS] Very smart, that--I give ye credit.
MRS.H.[Pointing to CHLOE, who has stood by herself, forgotten and uncomfortable throughout the scene]
May I ask who this lady is?
[CHLOE turns round startled, and her vanity bag slips down her dress to the floor.]
HORNBLOWER.No, ma'am, ye may not, for ye know perfectly well.
JILL.I brought her in, mother [She moves to CHLOE's side.]
MRS.H.Will you take her out again, then.
HILLCRIST.Amy, have the goodness to remember----MRS.H.That this is my house so far as ladies are concerned.
JILL.Mother!
[She looks astonished at CHLOE, who, about to speak, does not, passing her eyes, with a queer, half-scarred expression, from MRS.HILLCRIST to DAWKER.]
[To CHLOE] I'm awfully sorry.Come on!