[John doesn’t answer; after a searching look at him his father continues.
Of course, if you prefer your own company, that’s nothing to do with me, but your life from ten o’clock in the morning till five in the evening does belong to me. (In answer to a look from his son he expands that.) It belongs to the firm. Now look here, young man, I can put this in a nutshell. You’ve been engaged to Frankie some time, on the understanding I make you a junior partner when you marry.
John: Yes.
Mr. Freeman: How much do you get now?
John: You know.
Mr. Freeman: Five hundred a year. A thousand when you marry; and a yearly rise after that. Of course your life belongs to the firm—and will do, more and more. It’s about time you realised that.
John: I realise it all right.
Mr. Freeman: Then I want to know why you left the office an hour before lunch—and never came back after lunch.
John: ... It’s difficult to explain.
Mr. Freeman: I daresay it is; but it’s the sort of thing that’s got to be explained.