BISHOP. Ted? But how came he to know of it?

LAURA. Oh, I don't know.

BISHOP. Such a nice young man, I always thought. He seemed so ...

LAURA. [_In despair._] What are we to do about Ken?

BISHOP. He blamed me. He said I had betrayed him.

LAURA. [_Impatiently._] How are we to give him back his
self-confidence?

BISHOP. He said I was dishonest.

LAURA. If in some way I could return to him his lovely vanity. When
he had no job, he had no thought of me--none--none....

BISHOP. What is there left for him to believe in, when even I, his
father ...

LAURA. Oh don't! It was my fault. Don't blame yourself. And anyway,
the only thing that matters is Ken. Don't you see?

BISHOP. You're right, my child.

LAURA. He's so crushed! And that despair that shuts me out! Why is
it? Why is it that a woman loves a man most when he has
nothing--and he wants her only when he has everything else? What's
going to happen to us?

BISHOP. Everything will be all right, my child. Kenneth has
suffered a bitter blow to his pride. But he'll sober up and resign
himself to the situation.

LAURA. Resign himself?

BISHOP. We must make him see that that is the only thing to do.

LAURA. But is it? Is there no hope of a real position?

BISHOP. Prescott gave me his word when I--when we made the
arrangement--that he would make a real place for Kenneth as soon as
he could.

LAURA. So far he hasn't.

BISHOP. It's a matter of time. Business is greatly improved.
Building must revive by the spring. Therefore, don't you see, if
our boy is patient until then ... [LAURA _shakes her head._] We
must make him go on. If he gives it up now he may lose a real
opportunity. That is what you and I must make him see! The
opportunity ahead.

LAURA. He couldn't go on.

BISHOP. He must.

LAURA. No. Why must he?

BISHOP. [_Tenderly._] A family, my dear, is a very conclusive
argument.

LAURA. Family? What do you mean?

BISHOP. [_Still with his tender sentimentality._] I take it, since
Kenneth spoke of a wife and baby ...

LAURA. [_Half-laughing._] Oh!--Thank God, no!

BISHOP. But he said ...

LAURA. That was just rhetoric.--I am not having any babies until I
see some security for them.

BISHOP. Many of the unemployed do have children.

LAURA. I'll have them only when I can see safety for them.

BISHOP. Yes, yes. Well, I only thought that ...

LAURA. That if a child were coming, Ken would have to knuckle
under.

BISHOP. Such responsibi