BROXOPP. And twenty-five years wiser, and twenty-five years more in love with each other.
NANCY. Yes, but what I’m rather afraid of is that we’ve had—well, fifteen years of spending money, and——
BROXOPP. You needn’t be afraid. We’re going to have money to spend again. But we’ll have the fun of making it again first. (With an air) Madam, you see before you The Great Chillingham!... (A little hurt) You don’t say anything.
NANCY (at her drawing again). Darling! (But how she would have flown to him twenty-five years ago!)
BROXOPP. Perhaps it is as well. The Great Chillingham is not yet before you. I spoke too soon. (He begins to undo the parcels.)
NANCY (mechanically). Yes, darling.
BROXOPP. Wait! (He opens the parcels—a Chillingham grey hat and a Chillingham pink tie are disclosed) Permit me, madam, to introduce to you the Chillingham hat and the Chillingham tie! (He holds them up.)
NANCY (wistfully). There has never been more than one Broxopp baby!
BROXOPP. This is not babyness; it’s business. I called on the Aquavim people to-day—the Brain Tonic for Tired Workers. I announced that I was willing to undertake the entire management and reconstruction of their business for them. They declined. I then said that temporarily, and until greater opportunities offered, I might be induced to advertise their poison for them. They replied that they no longer wrote their own advertisements; they were written for them [78]by eminent authors, actors, painters, soldiers, and statesmen, in exchange for a few bottles and the publicity which it brought them. I said modestly that, if it came to that, I myself was at one time not unknown in the world of commerce. The manager looked at my card again, and regretted that he could not seem to recall the name of Chillingham. That opened my eyes, Nancy, and I decided that all the world should know (putting on the bowler hat and striking an attitude) The Great Chillingham! But you’ll see it better directly, when I’ve got the tie on.
NANCY (going to him). Say you don’t regret Broxopp very much!