come to Foxon Falls! I might have known what his opinions would
be, with his inheritance. (Reproachfully.) I didn't suppose you could be
so easily influenced by sentimentalism, George, I'd hoped you'd got over
that.

GEORGE. Are you sure it's sentimentalism, dad? Dr. Jonathan didn't say
much, but I'll admit he started me thinking. I've begun to realize a few
things--

ASHER. What things?

GEORGE (glancing at the clock on the mantel). I haven't got time to tell
you,--I'm afraid I couldn't make it clear, anyway,--it isn't clear in
my own mind yet. But,--go slow with this labour business, dad, there's
dynamite in it.

ASHER. Dynamite?

GEORGE. Human dynamite. They're full of it,--we're full of it, too, I
guess. They're not so different from you and me, though I'll admit that
many of them are ignorant, prejudiced and bitter. But this row isn't
just the result of restlessness and discontent,--that's the smoke, but
the fire's there, too. I've heard enough this morning to be convinced
that they're struggling for something fundamental, that has to do with
human progress,--the issue behind the war. It's obscured now, in the
smoke. Now if that's so you can't ignore it, dad, you can't suppress it,
the only thing to do is to sit down with them and try to understand it.
If they've got a case, if the union has come to stay, recognize it and
deal with it.

ASHER. You--you, my son, are not advising me to recognize the union! To
give our employees a voice in our private affairs!

GEORGE (courageously). But is the war our private affair, dad? Hasn't it
changed things already?

(ASHER makes a gesture of pain, of repudiation. GEORGE approaches
him appealingly.)

Dad, you know how much we've always been to each other, I'd hate to have
any misunderstanding between us,--especially today. I've always accepted
your judgment. But I'm over twenty one, I'm going to fight this war,
I've got to make up my own mind about it.

ASHER (extending his arms and putting his hands on GEORGE'S shoulders).
Something's upset you today, my boy,--you don't know what you're saying.
When you get over there and take command of your men you'll see things
in a truer proportion.

GEORGE. No, I can't leave it this way, dad. I've come to feel this
thing, it's got hold of me now, I shan't change. And I'll be thinking of
it over there, all the time, if we don't talk it out.

ASHER. For God's sake, George, don't speak of it again,--don't think of
it!