Oh , it 's you . I hoped it was father going out . He is late this morning . Then I wish he 'd go and do it . Yes , I am , and you know I am , and I 'll thank you both to go when he comes . Good morning , Mr. Prosser .Father 's not gone out yet . He 's late . Maggie , we know you 're a pushing sales-woman , but — MAGGIEIt 'll teach him to keep out of here a bit . He 's too much time on his hands . You know why he comes . It 's all very well for an old maid like you to talk , but if father wo n't have us go courting , where else can Albert meet me except here when father 's out ? Courting must come first . Do n't swear , father . HOBSONNo . I 'll sit down instead .Listen to me , you three . I 've come to conclusions about you . And I wo n't have it . Do you hear that ? Interfering with my goings out and comings in . The idea ! I 've a mind to take measures with the lot of you . If we take trouble to feed you it 's not bumptious to ask you not to be late for your food . I suppose you mean Vickey and me ! A publican . It is not immodest , father . It 's the fashion to wear bustles . We shall continue to dress fashionably , father . Ca n't we choose husbands for ourselves ? What 's the matter with Willie ? You 're going to marry Willie Mossop ! Willie Mossop ! I know , and if you 're afraid to speak your thoughts , I 'm not . Look here , Maggie —,— what you do touches us , and you 're mistaken if you think I 'll own Willie Mossop for my brother-in-law . You ask father if there 's disgrace . And look at me . I 'd hopes of Albert Prosser till this happened . Yes . What 's your opinion of Will ? Would you like him in the family ? But you said — Oh , father ! HOBSONGo and get my dinner served and talk less . Go on now . I 'm not in right temper to be crossed . I 'm sure I do n't know what to tell you to do , Tubby . Well , father 's out and I can n't help you . I do n't know what to tell you . Nobody seems to want any boots made . Then you 'd better . You suggested it . Oh , dear ! What would Miss Maggie have told you to do ? Then go and make clogs . Yes . I do n't care . It 's father 's place to be here to tell them what to do . Oh , yes . Go on . Blame me that the place is all at sixes and sevens . I 'm not snappy in myself .It 's these figures . I can n't get them right . What 's 17 and 25 ? VICKEYFifty-two , of course . Well , it does n't balance right . Oh , I wish I was married and out of it . You ! Well , you 're sly , Vickey Hobson . You 've kept it to yourself . Maggie , you here ! No . He 's not been here so often since you and Willie Mossop got — MAGGIESince when ? Since you made him buy that pair of boots he did n't want . MAGGIEI see . He did n't like paying for taking his pleasure in our shop . Well , if he 's not expected , somebody must go for him . Prosser , Pilkington & Prosser , Solicitors of Bexley Square . That 's right , is n't it ? Yes . Albert 's “ and Prosser . ” MAGGIEAye ? Quite a big man in his way . Then , will you go and fetch him , Mr. Beenstock ? Tell him to bring the paper with him . VICKEYYou 're ordering folk about a bit . Is it ? Suppose father comes in and finds Albert and Freddy here ? He 's beyond his time already . Why ? Sleeping ? Is that all we 're to be told ? I do n't know what you 're aiming at , Maggie , but — He changed his mind . Willie Mossop was our boot hand . But however did you manage it ? Where did the capital come from ? I 'll do it if you 'll help me with these books , Maggie . Yes . I think you might help me , Maggie . Very well . Well , I hope you 're satisfied , Maggie . You 've got your way again , and now perhaps you 'll tell us if there 's anything you want in this shop . I 'm asking you , what 's your business here ? You 've been married this morning ! I do n't see how you knew . And the shop ? Wedded with a brass ring ! I 'm a bit too much astonished at you to think about accounts . A ring out of stock ! Have n't you furnished ? I 'd stay single sooner than have other people 's cast-off sticks in my house . Where 's your pride gone to , Maggie ? Wait a bit . Let me tell you if you claim the furniture from your old bedroom —,— that it 's my room now , and you 'll not budge a stick of it . Nor to you , neither . Well , it ‘ ud not suit me . Yes , or for mine . What ? We 're ready , Maggie . I dare say . But you 'll not speak as well as he did , so we can leave it with a good wind-up . I 'm free to own you took me by surprise , Will . I thought that speech never came natural from Will . Do you mean to tell me that Willie found the capital ? He must be if you 've done this out of what father used to pay him . That 's it . I 'm a bit nervous . Who 's that ? When he 's gone . Tubby Wadlow 's looking after it . It will be much easier for you without us in your way , father . So does my Albert know his trade .HOBSONI 'll grant you that . He knows his trade . He 's good at robbery .And I 've to have it on my conscience that my daughter 's wed a lawyer and an employer of lawyers . Father ! HOBSONAye . You may father me . But that 's a piece of work I 've finished with . I 've done with fathering , and they 're beginning it . They 'll know what marrying a woman means before so long . They 're putting chains upon themselves and I have thrown the shackles off . I 've suffered thirty years and more and I 'm a free man from to-day . Lord , what a thing you 're taking on ! You poor , poor wretches . You 're red-nosed robbers , but you 're going to pay for it .MAGGIEYou 'd better arrange to get married quick . Alice and Vickey will have a sweet time with him . Good night , Maggie .And thank you . I dare say . You been here long , Maggie ? I live in the Crescent myself . I do n't think I can be expected to come back to this after what I 've been used to lately . Well , I say it ought to be Maggie , father . She 's the eldest . Do n't you know ? I expect you 'd put a collar on in any case , father . HOBSONOf course I should . I 'm going to put a collar on . But understand me , Maggie , it 's not for the sake of Will Mossop . It 's because my neck is cold .MAGGIENow , then , which of us is it to be ? Maggie ! Well , I 'm not going to break my home up and that 's flat . That 's not fair speaking . I 'd come if there were no one else . You know very well it 's your duty , Maggie . Do you mean to say you wo n't come ? There 's only Maggie for it . It 's our way as well , is n't it ? Yes . He might leave them his money ! Father must make his will at once . Albert shall draw it up . That 's never Willie Mossop . VICKEYAre you coming into this ? What on earth do you mean ? It 's a good business still . Do you mean to tell me father is n't rich ? You 'll do what 's arranged for you . Will Mossop , do you know who you 're talking to ? WILLIEAye . My wife 's young sisters . Times have changed a bit since you used to order me about this shop , have n't they , Alice ? Yes . I 'm Mrs. Albert Prosser now . And we 're to stay here and watch Maggie and Will abusing father when he 's ill . We 're not against you , father . We want to stay and see that Will deals fairly by you . Did Maggie skip ? Do you mean that we 're to go ? Oh , father ! Vickey !