major booth voysey. Lack of discipline.
mr. george booth. [hurrying on.] The way a man now even stops to think what he's eating and drinking. And in religious matters . . Vicar, I put it to you . . there's no uniformity at all.
mr. colpus. Ah . . I try to keep myself free from the disturbing influences of modern thought.
mr. george booth. Young men must be forming their own opinions about this and their opinions about that. You know, Edward, you're worse even than Hugh is.
edward. [glancing up mildly at this sudden attack.] What have I done, Mr. Booth?
mr. george booth. [not the readiest of men.] Well . . aren't you one of those young men who go about the world making difficulties?
edward. What sort of difficulties?
mr. george booth. [triumphantly.] Just so . . I never can make out. Surely when you're young you can ask the advice of your elders and when you grow up you find Laws . . lots of laws divine and human laid down for our guidance. [Well in possession of the conversation he spreads his little self.] I look back over a fairly long life and . . perhaps I should say by Heaven's help . . I find nothing that I can honestly reproach myself with. And yet I don't think I ever took more than five minutes to come to a decision upon any important point. One's private life is, I think, one's own affair . . I should allow no one to pry into that. But as to worldly things . . well, I have come into several sums of money and my capital is still intact . . ask your father. [mr. voysey nods gravely.] I've never robbed any man. I've never lied over anything that mattered. As a citizen I pay my taxes without grumbling very much. Yes, and I sent conscience money too upon one occasion. I consider that any man who takes the trouble can live the life of a gentleman. [and he finds that his cigar is out.]
major booth voysey. [not to be outdone by this display of virtue.] Well, I'm not a conceited man, but—