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＇He points through the French window； as if he could see those
chimneys rising and marring the beauty of the fields＇ I was born
here； and my father； and his； and his； and his。 They loved those
fields； and those old trees。 And this barbarian； with his
〃improvement〃 schemes； forsooth！ I learned to ride in the Centry
meadowsprettiest spring meadows in the world； I've climbed every
tree there。 Why my father ever sold！ But who could have
imagined this？ And come at a bad moment； when money's scarce。
JILL。 ＇Cuddling his arm＇ Dodo！
HILLCRIST。 Yes。 But you don't love the place as I do； Jill。 You
youngsters don't love anything； I sometimes think。
JILL。 I do； Dodo； I do！
HILLCRIST。 You've got it all before you。 But you may live your
life and never find anything so good and so beautiful as this old
home。 I'm not going to have it spoiled without a fight。
＇Conscious of batting betrayed Sentiment； he walks out at the
French window； passing away to the right。 JILL following to
the window； looks。 Then throwing back her head； she clasps her
hands behind it。＇
JILL。 Ohoh…oh！
＇A voice behind her says； 〃JILL！〃 She turns and starts back；
leaning against the right lintel of the window。 ROLF appears
outside the window from Left。＇
Who goes there？
ROLE。 ＇Buttressed against the Left lintel＇ Enemyafter Chloe's
bag。
JILL。 Pass； enemy！ And all's ill！
＇ROLF passes through the window； and retrieves the vanity bag
from the floor where CHLOE dropped it； then again takes his
stand against the Left lintel of the French window。＇
ROLF。 It's not going to make any difference； is it？
JILL。 You know it is。
ROLF。 Sins of the fathers。
JILL。 Unto the third and fourth generations。 What sin has my
father committed？
ROLF。 None； in a way； only； I've often told you I don't see why you
should treat us as outsiders。 We don't like it。
JILL。 Well； you shouldn't be； then； I mean； he shouldn't be。
ROLF。 Father's just as human as your father； he's wrapped up in us；
and all his 〃getting on〃 is for us。 Would you like to be treated as
your mother treated Chloe？ Your mother's set the stroke for the
other big…wigs about here； nobody calls on Chloe。 And why not？ Why
not？ I think it's contemptible to bar people just because they're
new； as you call it； and have to make their position instead of
having it left them。
JILL。 It's not because they're new； it's becauseif your father
behaved like a gentleman； he'd be treated like one。
ROLF。 Would he？ I don't believe it。 My father's a very able man；
he thinks he's entitled to have influence here。 Well； everybody
tries to keep him down。 Oh！ yes； they do。 That makes him mad and
more determined than ever to get his way。 You ought to be just；
Jill。
JILL。 I am just。
ROLF。 No； you're not。 Besides； what's it got to do with Charlie
and Chloe？ Chloe's particularly harmless。 It's pretty sickening
for her。 Father didn't expect people to call until Charlie married；
but since
JILL。 I think it's all very petty。
ROLF。 It isa dog…in…the…manger business； I did think you were
above it。
JILL。 How would you like to have your home spoiled？
ROLE。 I'm not going to argue。 Only things don't stand still。
Homes aren't any more proof against change than anything else。
JILL。 All right！ You come and try and take ours。
ROLF。 We don't want to take your home。
JILL。 Like the Jackmans'？
ROLF。 All right。 I see you're hopelessly prejudiced。
＇He turns to go。＇
JILL。 ＇Just as he is vanishingsoftly＇ Enemy？
ROLF。 ＇Turning＇ Yes； enemy。
JILL。 Before the battlelet's shake hands。
＇They move from the lintels and grasp each other's hands in the
centre of the French window。＇
CURTAIN
ACT II
SCENE I
A billiard room in a provincial hotel； where things are bought
and sold。 The scene is set well forward； and is not very
broad； it represents the auctioneer's end of the room； having；
rather to stage Left； a narrow table with two chairs facing the
audience； where the auctioneer will sit and stand。 The table；
which is set forward to the footlights； is littered with green…
covered particulars of sale。 The audience are in effect public
and bidders。 There is a door on the Left； level with the
table。 Along the back wall； behind the table； are two raised
benches with two steps up to them； such as billiard rooms often
have； divided by a door in the middle of a wall； which is
panelled in oak。 Late September sunlight is coming from a
skylight （not visible） on to these seats。 The stage is empty
when the curtain goes up； but DAWKERS； and MRS。 HILLCRIST are
just entering through the door at the back。
DAWKER。 Be out of their way here； ma'am。 See old Hornblower with
Chearlie？
＇He points down to the audience。＇
MRS。 H。 It begins at three； doesn't it？
DAWKER。 They won't be over…punctual； there's only the Centry
selling。 There's young Mrs。 Hornblower with the other boy
＇Pointing＇ over at the entrance。 I've got that chap I told you of
down from town。
MRS。 H。 Ah！ make sure quite of her； Dawker。 Any mistake would be
fatal。
DAWKER。 ＇Nodding＇ That's right； ma'am。 Lot of peopledalways
spare time to watch an auctionever remark that？ The Duke's
agent's here； shouldn't be surprised if he chipped in。
MRS。 H。 Where did you leave my husband？
DAWKER。 With Miss Jill； in the courtyard。 He's coming to you。 In
case I miss him； tell him when I reach his limit to blow his nose if
he wants me to go on； when he blows it a second time； I'll stop for
good。 Hope we shan't get to that。 Old Hornblower doesn't throw his
money away。
MRS。 H。 What limit did you settle？
DAWKER。 Six thousand！
MRS。 H。 That's a fearful price。 Well； good luck to you； Dawker！
DAWKER。 Good luck； ma'am。 I'll go and see to that little matter of
Mrs。 Chloe。 Never fear； we'll do them is somehow。
＇He winks； lays his finger on the side of his nose； and goes
out at the door。＇
＇MRS。 HILLCRIST mounts the two steps； sits down Right of the
door； and puts up a pair of long…handled 》gdaases。 Through the
door behind her come CHLOE and ROLF。 She makes a sign for him
to go； and shuts the door。
CHLOE。 ＇At the foot of the steps in the gangwaywith a slightly
common accent＇ Mrs。 Hillcrist！
MRS。 H。 ＇Not quite starting＇ I beg your pardon？
CHLOE。 ＇Again＇ Mrs。 Hillcrist
MRS。 H。 Well？
CHLOE。 I never did you any harm。
MRS。 H。 Did I ever say you did？
CHLOE。 No； but you act as if I had。
MRS。 H。 I'm not aware that I've acted at allas yet。 You are
nothing to me； except as one of your family。
CHLOE。 'Tisn't I that wants to spoil your home。
MRS。 H。 Stop them then。 I see your husband down there with his
father。
CHLOE。 II have tried。
MRS。 H。 ＇Looking at her＇ Oh！ I suppose such men don't pay
attention to what women ask them。
CHLOE。 ＇With a flash of spirit＇ I'm fond of my husband。 I
MRS。 H。 ＇Looking at her stea