BROXOPP (sitting on the sofa with him). But this is wonderful news. Why aren’t you more excited? (Apologetically) I mean as excited as Eton and Oxford will permit?
JACK. You do like her?
BROXOPP. Certainly. She has a way of—a way of—— Well, I can’t put it into words, Jack, but she’s the only one of your friends who has told me frankly that she doesn’t like my tie. The others try to convey the impression that I’m not wearing a tie at all—that I am in Holy Orders, or if not in Holy Orders, have a very large beard which—— (He indicates with his hand how such a beard would completely cover his tie.)
JACK. Well, but your tie is a bit—well, you know, I mean frankly, isn’t it?
BROXOPP (smiling). Yes, but so am I a bit—well, you know, I mean frankly, isn’t it? If I hadn’t been, you would never have gone to Eton and Oxford. But don’t think I don’t like Iris. I do—immensely. Well, if you’re as happy together as Nancy and I have been, you’ll do. Twenty-five years, Jack, and I always say that——
[32]JACK. Good old Dad. She’s a ripper, isn’t she?
BROXOPP. She’ll do you a lot of good. But tell me more about it. When did you first discover that she was—a ripper?
JACK. Oh, months ago, but we only fixed it up at that dance last night. I pushed round this morning to see Sir Roger and talk things over. He’s coming round for a pow-wow directly.
BROXOPP. My boy married! And it seems only yesterday that your mother and I were just beginning to keep house together, and there was no Jack at all.
JACK. Well, of course, it seems longer ago than that to me.