You know , Dodo , it 's all pretty good rot in these days . What is a cad ? Well , Old Hornblower I 'll give you . Well , you 've got him . Now , Charlie — Chearlie — I say — the importance of not being Charlie —— My dear father , they 've been here seven years . Charlie Hornblower is n't really half a bad sport . Now , his wife — Chloe — - It 's a ripping name . Dodo , you 're narrow . Buck up , old darling , it wo n't do . Chloe has seen life , I 'm pretty sure ; THAT 'S attractive , anyway . No , mother 's not in the room ; do n't turn your uneasy eyes . The limit . Now , Rolf —— Rolf Hornblower 's a topper ; he really is a nice boy . Yes , darling . You know what a nice boy is , do n't you ? Well , I 'll tell you . In the first place , he 's not amorous . Just a jolly good companion . Well , to anyone — me . Anywhere . You do n't suppose I confine myself to the home paddocks , do you ? I 'm naturally rangey , Father . In the second place , he does n't like discipline . In the third place , he bars his father . Fish not ! Fourthly , he 's got ideas . For instance , he thinks — as I do —— Careful ! He thinks old people run the show too much . He says they ought n't to , because they 're so damtouchy . Are you damtouchy , darling ? He says there 'll be no world fit to live in till we get rid of the old . We must make them climb a tall tree , and shake them off it . Otherwise , with the way they stand on each other 's rights , they 'll spoil the garden for the young . Oh ! Rolf does n't talk to him , his mouth 's too large . Have you ever seen it , Dodo ? It 's considerable , is n't it ? Now yours is — reticent , darling . Poor ducky ! How long have we been here , Dodo ? It has its drawbacks . D'you think Hornblower had a father ? I believe he was spontaneous . But , Dodo , why all this — this attitude to the Hornblowers ? That 's only because we are , as mother would say , and they 're not — yet . But why not let them be ? Why ? But if you gave them the ell , they would n't want the inch . Why should it all be such a skin game ? Keep to the point , Dodo . Darling , do n't prose . They 're not half as bad as you think . Cut our throat spirit , you mean . What 's your definition of a gentleman , Dodo ? Oh ! Try ! But suppose his standards are low ? Ah ! self-seeking ? But are n't we all , Dodo ? I am . Oh ! yes — too young to know . Except , of course , mother . Mother reminds me of England according to herself — always right whatever she does . That 's what I was saying . Now , no one could call you perfect , Dodo . Besides , you 've got gout . Shall I tell you my definition of a gentleman ? A man who gives the Hornblower his due .And I think mother ought to call on them . Rolf says old Hornblower resents it fearfully that she 's never made a sign to Chloe the three years she 's been here . I know you 're ever so much better than she is . You do keep your prejudices out of your phiz . But mother literally looks down her nose . And she never forgives an “ h . ” They 'd get the “ hell ” from her if they took the “ hinch . ” Do n't slime out of it , Dodo . I say , mother ought to call on the Hornblowers .Well ? I 'll go , darling . Look , Dodo , I 've brought the lot ! Is n't it a treat , dear Papa ? And here 's the stuff . Hallo ! That 's not a bit sporting of you , Mr. Hornblower . There is n't another side to turning out the Jackmans after you 'd promised . I had been standing up for you ; now I wo n't . I wo n't say anything about the other thing because I think it 's beneath , dignity to notice it . But to turn poor people out of their cottages is a shame . Free speech , Mr. Hornblower ; do n't be violent . Mr. Hornblower ! Well , what 's the good of it ? Life 's too short for rows , and too jolly ! Poor God ! I can n't help it . I brought her in , mother Mother ! Now , mother Why did you insult her ? Why ? Even if she is Old Combustion 's daughter-in-law ? She 's all right . Lots of women powder and touch up their lips nowadays . I think she 's rather a good sort ; she was awfully upset . Oh ! do n't be so mysterious , mother . If you know something , do spit it out ! It 's no good , Dodo . It made me ashamed . It 's just as — as caddish to insult people who have n't said a word , in your own house , as it is to be — old Hornblower . It 's something Dawker 's told her ; I saw them . I do n't like Dawker , father , he 's so common . They 'll make you do things you do n't approve of , Dodo , if you do n't look out . Mother 's fearfully bitter when she gets her knife in . If old Hornblower 's disgusting , it 's no reason we should be . No , no , darling ! I only want to warn you solemnly that mother 'll tell you you 're fighting fair , no matter what she and Dawker do . No . Because —Well — I was just beginning to enjoy , myself ; and now — everything 's going to be bitter and beastly , with mother in that mood . That horrible old man ! Oh , Dodo ! Do n't let them make you horrid ! You 're such a darling . How 's your gout , ducky ? There , you see ! That shows ! It 's going to be half-interesting for you , but not for — us . No . But — now it 's all spoiled . I do n't mean any tosh about love 's young dream ; but I do like being friends . I want to enjoy things , Dodo , and you can n't do that when everybody 's on the hate . You 're going to wallow in it , and so shall I — oh ! I know I shall !— we shall all wallow , and think of nothing but “ one for his nob . ” Of course . I love it . Dodo ! I do , Dodo , I do ! Oh — oh-oh !Who goes there ? Pass , enemy ! And all 's ill ! You know it is . Unto the third and fourth generations . What sin has my father committed ? Well , you should n't be , then ; I mean , he should n't be . It 's not because they 're new , it 's because — if your father behaved like a gentleman , he 'd be treated like one . I am just . I think it 's all very petty . How would you like to have your home spoiled ? All right ! You come and try and take ours . Like the Jackmans ’ ? Enemy ? Before the battle — let 's shake hands . Come to see us turned out ? Sorry . She need n't have come , I suppose ? Do n't you feel beastly all down the backs of your legs . Dodo ? Do you , mother ? A wagon of old Hornblower 's pots passed while we were in the yard . It 's an omen . Look at the old brute ! Dodo , hold my hand . Oh ! Look ! There 's Miss Mullins , at the back ; just come in . Is n't she a spidery old chip ? What a fish ! I will .Have a sniff ; you look awfully white . No , do ! You must . D'you mind letting me see that a minute ?Beastly hot , is n't it ? You 'd better keep that . Why do you stay ? You did n't want to come , did you ? All right ! Here 's your water . What 's the time , Dodo ? Oh , hell ! Sorry , Dodo . I was only thinking . Look ! Here he is ! Phew !— is n't he ——? Why can n't I see the bids , Dodo ? Who was that , Dodo ? Enemy , Dodo . Us , Dodo ? Oh ! we 've got it ! Oh ! Dodo ! Stick it , Dodo ; stick it ! Oh , Dodo ! Ours ! Oh , Dodo ! How splendidly you stuck it ! Dodo , may I spit in his eye or something ? Well ? Oh , Dodo ! He 's obscene . Dodo ! It 's awful ! Look ! Chloe 's sitting down . She nearly fainted just now . It 's something to do with Dawker , Dodo , and that man with him . Look at mother ! Ask them ! Nonsense , mother ! Bosh ! I read the papers every day . It 's ridiculous , Dodo ; you 'd think I was mother at my age . No , but you had it , dear . Poor thing — whatever it is ! What went before , mother ? Mother means that , father . Pitch , Dodo , pitch ! He means humbug ; mother . Will it stop ? I 'm sorry , mother . Only it is a skin game , is n't it ? Mother , you 're wonderful ! Coming , Dodo . Come in here . There 's no one . We did n't begin it . I hope I should be sorry . And we can n't help thinking he 's a pig . Sorry ! He may be fitter , but he 's not going to survive . Is that all you came to say ? I do n't feel like joining . One can n't fight and not grow bitter . Wait ; you 'll feel it soon enough . Well ? I think you 'd better shut up . No . Yes . I do n't expect so . Lots of horrible things in the world . Do n't be moral . Better be real first . There is n't any . We 're all out , for our own . And why not ? Cynical ? Your father 's motto — “ Every man for himself . ” That 's the winner — hands down . Goodbye ! — “ If auld acquaintance be forgot And days of auld lang syne ” —— Let the three gentlemen in , and me out . We saw Chloe in the car . How did she take it , mother ? I shall go and see her . I shall . She must be in an awful state . I think I can , Dodo . I 'm going , all the same . Suppose I 'd taken a knock like that , Dodo , I 'd be glad of friendliness from someone . You do n't know what you can do till you try , mother . Oh ! Mother , we are grateful . Dodo , show your gratitude . Yes , Dodo , yes ! Mother , hold him while INo ! I can n't — I can n't help thinking of her . There is n't much , Dodo . I was in an awful funk for fear I should meet any of the others , and of course I did meet Rolf , but I told him some lie , and he took me to her room-boudoir , they call it — is n't boudoir a “ dug-out ” word ? She was sitting like this .And she said in a sort of fierce way : “ What do you want ? ” And I said : “ I 'm awfully sorry , but I thought you might like it . ” She looked at me hard , and said : “ I suppose you know all about it . ” And I Said : “ Only vaguely , ” because of course I do n't . And she said : “ Well , it was decent of you to come . ” Dodo , she looks like a lost soul . What has she done ? Oh !Is it very awful in that world , Dodo ? One thing I 'm sure of : she 's awfully fond of Chearlie . And she 's frightened , horribly . I think she 's desperate . No ; only —— Oh ! it was beastly ; and of course I dried up . I just said : “ Father and I feel awfully sorry ; if there 's anything we can do —— ” I had to say something . I 'm glad I went , anyway . I feel more human . I 'm not enjoying home tonight , Dodo . Mother 's fearfully ’ bucked , and Dawker 's simply oozing triumph . I do n't trust him . Dodo ; he 's too — not pugilistic — the other one with a pug-naceous . I 'm sure he would n't care tuppence if Chloe committed suicide . I wonder if mother would . You !Come in ! It 's only us !Dodo ! Sit down ; you 're all shaky . It 's all right . Dodo ! It 's awful Of course you do . Oh ! Are you ? Look here ! He simply must n't find out . Dodo , what can we say to put him clean off the scent ? Yes ; and it is n't — that 's splendid ! You 'd be able to put such conviction into it . Do n't you think so , Dodo ? Oh ! It 's locked — I forgot .It 's all right , Fellows ; I was only saying something rather important . What a bore ! Can you see him , Dodo ? Yes , she came this morning . No . Shall I , Dodo ? No ; we do n't . Dodo !We are , you know . She loves you , you know . We do n't know . Dodo , we ought to look for her ; I 'm awfully afraid . Rolf ! All of you ! Stop ! Look !In the gravel pit . She 's just breathing ; that 's all . Dodo , she 's moved ; she 's spoken . It may not be so bad . It 's not you , Dodo ; it 's not you , beloved Dodo .