STEPHEN. I go into trade! Certainly not.
UNDERSHAFT [opening his eyes, greatly eased in mind and manner] Oh! in that case—!
LADY BRITOMART. Cannons are not trade, Stephen. They are enterprise.
STEPHEN. I have no intention of becoming a man of business in any sense. I have no capacity for business and no taste for it. I intend to devote myself to politics.
UNDERSHAFT [rising] My dear boy: this is an immense relief to me. And I trust it may prove an equally good thing for the country. I was afraid you would consider yourself disparaged and slighted. [He moves towards Stephen as if to shake hands with him].
LADY BRITOMART [rising and interposing] Stephen: I cannot allow you to throw away an enormous property like this.
STEPHEN [stiffly] Mother: there must be an end of treating me as a child, if you please. [Lady Britomart recoils, deeply wounded by his tone]. Until last night I did not take your attitude seriously, because I did not think you meant it seriously. But I find now that you left me in the dark as to matters which you should have explained to me years ago. I am extremely hurt and offended. Any further discussion of my intentions had better take place with my father, as between one man and another.
LADY BRITOMART. Stephen! [She sits down again; and her eyes fill with tears].
UNDERSHAFT [with grave compassion] You see, my dear, it is only the big men who can be treated as children.
STEPHEN. I am sorry, mother, that you have forced me—