(_Moves round chair to
up_ R.)
JIM. Well, you want a man, and you want him temperance. It'll
cost you a bit, you know. (_Sits in chair below_ L. _side
of counter_.)
HOBSON (_going to him_). Eh? Oh, I'll get my hand down for
the wedding all right.
JIM. A warm man like you 'ull have to do more than that. There's
things called settlements.
HOBSON. Settlements?
JIM. Aye. You've to bait your hook to catch fish, Henry.
HOBSON. Then I'll none go fishing. (_Sits_.)
JIM. But you said--
HOBSON. I've changed my mind. I'd a fancy for a bit of peace, but
there's luxuries a man can buy too dear. Settlements indeed!
JIM. I had a man in mind.
HOBSON. You keep him there, Jim. I'll rub along and chance it.
Settlements indeed!
JIM. You save their keep.
HOBSON. They work for that. And they're none of them big eaters.
JIM. And their wages.
HOBSON. Wages? Do you think I pay wages to my own daughters?
(_Rises and goes to desk_ L.) I'm not a fool.
JIM. Then it's all off? (_Rises_.)
HOBSON (_turns_). From the moment that you breathed the word
"settlements" it was dead off, Jim. Let's go to the "Moonraker's"
and forget there's such a thing as women in the world. (_He
takes up hat and rings bell on counter_.
Pages:
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32