MRS. CULVER ( simply ). Oh! Then it must have been somebody else who was talking to me about Siege Artillery. I understand it's very scientific—all angles and degrees and wind-pressures and things. John will soon be eighteen, and his father and I want him to be really useful in the Army. We don't want him to be thrown away. He has brains, and so we are thinking of Siege Artillery for him.
( During this speech John has entered, in evening dress .)
JOHN. Are you on Siege again, mater? The mater's keen on Siege because she's heard somewhere it's the safest thing there is.
MRS. CULVER. And if it does happen to be the safest—what then?
TRANTO. I suppose you're all for the Flying Corps, John?
JOHN ( with condescension ). Not specially. Since one of the old boys came and did looping the
loop stunts over the school the whole Fifth has gone mad on the R.F.C. Most fellows are just like sheep. Somebody in the Sixth has to be original. I want to fight as much as any chap with wings across his chest, but I've got my private career to think of too. If you ask me, the mater's had a brain-wave for once.
Enter Mr. Culver, back. He stands a moment at the door, surveying the scene . Mrs. Culver springs up, and Tranto also rises, moving towards the door .
MRS. CULVER. Arthur, have you come?
CULVER ( advancing a little ). Apparently. Hello, Tranto, glad to see you. I wanted to. ( Shakes hands with Tranto.)