PAUL. I've heard it said so. God knows what it means. I'm sure I try to be hearty. It's prejudice, and nothing else.
MRS. MUNNING. And word's passed round against us.
PAUL. Seems so.
MRS. MUNNING. It's very bad, Paul.
PAUL. Bad? Don't I know it's bad? Couldn't be worse if it tried. We'll have the shutters up altogether at this rate. The joinery business doesn't keep us alive, and if the catering goes to ruin, we'll go along with it. That's all.
MRS. MUNNING. That's all, is it? Can't you up and fight it? You're losing heart.
PAUL. Enough to make me, too. You can fight a thing you see, but you can't fight a prejudice. It's like hitting air. I tell you what, mother, this is no time to have a guest, and a guest that calls for a servant.
MRS. MUNNING. We can't afford to lose a chance.
PAUL. Chance of what?
MRS. MUNNING. There's money in that family, and when my sister writes to me and says Virginia's not been well and needs the country air, I say it's folly not to have her here, cost what it may.