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MRS。 J。 We won't take it； eh； George？
JACKMAN。 Not a farden。 We come there when we was married。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Throwing out his finger＇ Ye're very improvident folk。
HILLCRIST。 Don't lecture them； Mr。 Hornblower； they come out of
this miles above you。
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Angry＇ Well； I was going to give ye another week； but
ye'll go out next Saturday； and take care ye're not late； or your
things'll be put out in the rain。
MRS。 H。 ＇To MRS。 JACKMAN＇ We'll send down for your things； and you
can come to us for the time being。
＇MRS。 JACKMAN drops a curtsey； her eyes stab HORNBLOWERS。＇
JACKMAN。 ＇Heavily； clenching his fists＇ You're no gentleman！
Don't put temptation in my way； that's all；
HILLCRIST。 ＇In a low voice＇ Jackman！
HORNBLOWER。 ＇Triumphantly＇ Ye hear that？ That's your protegee！
Keep out o' my way； me man； or I'll put the police on to ye for
utterin' threats。
HILLCRIST。 You'd better go now； Jackman。
＇The JACKMANS move to the door。＇
MRS。 J。 ＇Turning＇ Maybe you'll repent it some day； sir。
＇They go out； MRS。 HILLCRIST following。＇
HORNBLOWER。 We…ell； I'm sorry they're such unreasonable folk。 I
never met people with less notion of which side their bread was
buttered。
HILLCRIST。 And I never met anyone so pachydermatous。
HORNBLOWER。 What's that； in Heaven's name？ Ye needn' wrap it up in
long words now your good lady's gone。
HILLCRIST。 ＇With dignity＇ I'm not going in for a slanging match。
I resent your conduct much too deeply。
HORNBLOWER。 Look here； Hillcrist； I don't object to you personally；
ye seem to me a poor creature that's bound to get left with your
gout and your dignity； but of course ye can make yourself very
disagreeable before ye're done。 Now I want to be the movin' spirit
here。 I'm full of plans。 I'm goin' to stand for Parliament； I'm
goin' to make this a prosperous place。 I'm a good…matured man if
you'll treat me as such。 Now； you take me on as a neighbour and all
that； and I'11 manage without chimneys on the Centry。 Is it a
bargain？ ＇He holds out his hand。＇
HILLCRIST。 ＇Ignoring it＇ I thought you said you didn't keep your
word when it suited you to break it？
HORNBLOWER。 Now； don't get on the high horse。 You and me could be
very good friends； but I can be a very nasty enemy。 The chimneys
will not look nice from that windie； ye know。
HILLCRIST。 ＇Deeply angry＇ Mr。 Hornblower； if you think I'll take
your hand after this Jackman business； you're greatly mistaken。 You
are proposing that I shall stand in with you while you tyrannise
over the neighbourhood。 Please realise that unless you leave those
tenancies undisturbed as you said you would； we don't know each
other。
HORNBLOWER。 Well； that won't trouble me much。 Now； ye'd better
think it over； ye've got gout and that makes ye hasty。 I tell ye
again： I'm not the man to make an enemy of。 Unless ye're friendly；
sure as I stand here I'll ruin the look of your place。
＇The toot of a car is heard。＇
There's my car。 I sent Chearlie and his wife in it to buy the
Centry。 And make no mistakehe's got it in his packet。 It's your
last chance； Hillcrist。 I'm not averse to you as a man； I think
ye're the best of the fossils round here； at least； I think ye can
do me the most harm socially。 Come now！
＇He holds out his hand again。＇
HILLCRIST。 Not if you'd bought the Centry ten times over。 Your
ways are not mine； and I'll have nothing to do with you。
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'S
back； 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。 Ohho！ 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 birdreminds 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 JILL
steps 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；