What 's the matter ? It was only while I was waiting — Not at all , mother . I beg your pardon . Of course , mother . Have I done anything to annoy you , mother ? If so , it was quite unintentional . What is it , then , mother ? You are making me very uneasy . Only a — I ! You know I have never interfered in the household — I mean in our family affairs . I have thought sometimes that perhaps I ought ; but really , mother , I know so little about them ; and what I do know is so painful — it is so impossible to mention some things to you — Yes . But the girls are all right . They are engaged . But the will says also that if he increases his income by his own exertions , they may double the increase . I was certainly rather taken aback when I heard they were engaged . Cusins is a very nice fellow , certainly : nobody would ever guess that he was born in Australia ; but — Of course I was thinking only of his income . However , he is not likely to be extravagant . It 's very good of you , mother ; but perhaps I had better arrange that for myself . I am not sulking , mother . What has all this got to do with — with — with my father ? You need not remind me of that , mother . I have hardly ever opened a newspaper in my life without seeing our name in it . The Undershaft torpedo ! The Undershaft quick firers ! The Undershaft ten inch ! the Undershaft disappearing rampart gun ! the Undershaft submarine ! and now the Undershaft aerial battleship ! At Harrow they called me the Woolwich Infant . At Cambridge it was the same . A little brute at King 's who was always trying to get up revivals , spoilt my Bible — your first birthday present to me — by writing under my name , “ Son and heir to Undershaft and Lazarus , Death and Destruction Dealers : address , Christendom and Judea . ” But that was not so bad as the way I was kowtowed to everywhere because my father was making millions by selling cannons . What could they do ? He does not actually break the law . Mother ! Is that true ? He married without letting you know this ! But you said that was why you separated . Do you mean for — for — for — But this is so frightful to me , mother . To have to speak to you about such things ! Mother : you have no consideration for me . For Heaven 's sake either treat me as a child , as you always do , and tell me nothing at all ; or tell me everything and let me take it as best I can . I daresay we have been the very imperfect children of a very perfect mother ; but I do beg you to let me alone for once , and tell me about this horrible business of my father wanting to set me aside for another son . But you said — But did they never marry ? Were there no legitimate sons ? I am afraid I should make a poor hand of managing a cannon foundry . My father evidently had no great opinion of my capacity . Then it was on my account that your home life was broken up , mother . I am sorry . All this simply bewilders me , mother . People may differ about matters of opinion , or even about religion ; but how can they differ about right and wrong ? Right is right ; and wrong is wrong ; and if a man cannot distinguish them properly , he is either a fool or a rascal : that 's all . Well , what can you do ? We cannot take money from him . I had rather go and live in some cheap place like Bedford Square or even Hampstead than take a farthing of his money . I never knew that . We are utterly dependent on him and his cannons , then ! Nor do I . No . Of course if you are determined — I would die sooner than ask him for another penny . Ask him here !! ! I never expected you to ask him at all . I suppose so , if the girls cannot do without his money . Do you mean to say that my father is coming here to-night — that he may be here at any moment ? Not at all . You speak as if there were half a dozen moralities and religions to choose from , instead of one true morality and one true religion . In other words , some men are honest and some are scoundrels . Mother : what 's the matter ? Oh , you must n't think that , mother . I — I do n't like him . He has not stolen our affection from you . It is only curiosity . Where are you going , mother ? No . Certainly not . I beg your pardon Good afternoon . I go into trade ! Certainly not . 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 . Mother : there must be an end of treating me as a child , if you please .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 . I am sorry , mother , that you have forced me — I hope it is settled that I repudiate the cannon business . I have nothing of the artist about me , either in faculty or character , thank Heaven ! I make no such ridiculous pretension . I have not studied law . And I am afraid I have not the necessary push — I believe that is the name barristers give to their vulgarity — for success in pleading . I know the difference between right and wrong . You are pleased to be facetious . I pretend to nothing more than any honorable English gentleman claims as his birthright I am sorry , sir , that you force me to forget the respect due to you as my father . I am an Englishman ; and I will not hear the Government of my country insulted . Really , my dear father , it is impossible to be angry with you . You do n't know how absurd all this sounds to ME . You are very properly proud of having been industrious enough to make money ; and it is greatly to your credit that you have made so much of it . But it has kept you in circles where you are valued for your money and deferred to for it , instead of in the doubtless very oldfashioned and behind-the-times public school and university where I formed my habits of mind . It is natural for you to think that money governs England ; but you must allow me to think I know better . Character , father , character . Neither yours nor mine , father , but the best elements in the English national character . Well , I am rather busy — er —Oh well , yes : I 'll come . That is , if there is room for me . You must not mind Cusins , father . He is a very amiable good fellow ; but he is a Greek scholar and naturally a little eccentric . Mother — Have you two seen the place ? Why did you leave us ? Have you found anything discreditable ? Did you see the libraries and schools ! ? Have you gone into the insurance fund , the pension fund , the building society , the various applications of co-operation ! ? Undershaft comes from the office , with a sheaf of telegrams in his hands . Good news , I hope . Another Japanese victory ? Oh , magnificent . A perfect triumph of organization . Frankly , my dear father , I have been a fool : I had no idea of what it all meant — of the wonderful forethought , the power of organization , the administrative capacity , the financial genius , the colossal capital it represents . I have been repeating to myself as I came through your streets “ Peace hath her victories no less renowned than War . ” I have only one misgiving about it all . Well , I cannot help thinking that all this provision for every want of your workmen may sap their independence and weaken their sense of responsibility . And greatly as we enjoyed our tea at that splendid restaurant — how they gave us all that luxury and cake and jam and cream for threepence I really cannot imagine !— still you must remember that restaurants break up home life . Look at the continent , for instance ! Are you sure so much pampering is really good for the men 's characters ? Dolly , old fellow , think . Think before you decide . Do you feel that you are a sufficiently practical man ? It is a huge undertaking , an enormous responsibility . All this mass of business will be Greek to you . Well , I just want to say this before I leave you to yourselves . Do n't let anything I have said about right and wrong prejudice you against this great chance in life . I have satisfied myself that the business is one of the highest character and a credit to our country .I am very proud of my father . I —Barbara and Cusins , left alone together , look at one another silently .