ATHENE and MAUD. [Aghast] Father!
BUILDER. Ralph, oblige me! See them off the premises!
RALPH. Steady, John!
BUILDER. Go!
MAUD. [Proudly] All right! We thought you might like to know that
Athene's married, and that I've given up the movies. Now we'll go.
BUILDER turns his back on them, and, sitting down at his
writing-table, writes.
After a moment's whispered conversation with their Uncle, the two
girls go out.
RALPH BUILDER stands gazing with whimsical commiseration at his brother's back. As BUILDER finishes writing, he goes up and puts his hand on his brother's shoulder.
RALPH. This is an awful jar, old man!
BUILDER. Here's what I've said to that fellow: "MR MAYOR,—You had the effrontery to-day to discharge me with a caution—forsooth!—your fellow —magistrate. I've consulted my solicitor as to whether an action will lie for false imprisonment. I'm informed that it won't. I take this opportunity of saying that justice in this town is a travesty. I have no wish to be associated further with you or your fellows; but you are vastly mistaken if you imagine that I shall resign my position on the Bench or the Town Council.—Yours, "JOHN BUILDER."