into the chair).
Good man, that's the way to talk. I'll get them for you. Make yourself
comfortable in front of the fire till I come back. Here's the paper. (He
gives his uncle the paper, and goes out into the hall.)

***

(JAMES opens his eyes with a start and looks round him in a bewildered
way. He rubs his heart, takes out his match and looks at it, and then
stares round the room again. The door from the dining-room opens, and
PHILIP comes in with a piece of toast in his hand.)

PHILIP (his mouth full). You wanted to see me, Uncle James?

JAMES (still bewildered). That's all right, my boy, that's all right.
What have you been doing?

PHILIP (surprised). Breakfast. (Putting the last piece in his mouth)
Rather late, I'm afraid.

JAMES. That's all right. (He laughs awkwardly.)

PHILIP. Anything the matter? You don't look your usual bright self.

JAMES. I--er--seem to have dropped asleep in front of the fire. Most
unusual thing for me to have done. Most unusual.

PHILIP. Let that be a lesson to you not to get up so early. Of course,
if you're in the Army you can't help yourself. Thank Heaven I'm out of
it, and my own master again.

JAMES. Ah, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Sit down, Philip.
(He indicates the chair by the fire.)

PHILIP (taking a chair by the table). You have that, uncle; I shall be
all right here.

JAMES (hastily). No, no; you come here. (He gives PHILIP the armchair
and sits by the table himself.) I should be dropping off again. (He
laughs awkwardly.)

PHILIP. Righto. (He puts his hand to his pocket. UNCLE JAMES shivers and
looks at him to horror. PHILIP brings out his pipe, and a sickly grin of
relief comes into JAMES'S face.)

JAMES. I suppose you smoked a lot in France?

PHILIP. Rather! Nothing else to do. It's allowed in here?

JAMES (hastily). Yes, yes, of course. (PHILIP lights his pipe.) Well
now, Philip, what are you going to do, now you've left the Army?

PHILIP (promptly). Burn my uniform and sell my revolver.

JAMES (starting at the word "revolver"). Sell your revolver, eh?

PHILIP (surprised). Well, I don't want it now, do I?

JAMES. No.... Oh no.... Oh, most certainly not, I should say. Oh, I
can't see why you should want it at all. (With an uneasy laugh) You're
in England now. No need for revolvers here--eh?

PHILIP (staring at him). Well, no, I hope not.

JAMES (hastily). Quite so. Well now, Philip, what next? We must find a
profession for you.

P