HILIP (yawning). I suppose so. I haven't really thought about it much.

JAMES. You never wanted to be an architect?

PHILIP (surprised). Architect? (JAMES rubs his head and wonders what
made him think of architect.)

JAMES. Or anything like that.

PHILIP. It's a bit late, isn't it?

JAMES. Well, if you're four years behind, so is everybody else. (He
feels vaguely that he has heard this argument before.)

PHILIP (smiling): To tell the truth, I don't feel I mind much anyway.
Anything you like--except a commissionaire. I absolutely refuse to wear
uniform again.

JAMES. How would you like to come into the business?

PHILIP. The jam business? Well, I don't know. You wouldn't want me to
salute you in the mornings?

JAMES. My dear boy, no!

PHILIP. All right, I'll try it if you like. I don't know if I shall be
any good--what do you do?

JAMES. It's your experience in managing and--er--handling men which I
hope will be of value.

PHILIP. Oh, I can do that all right. (Stretching himself luxuriously)
Uncle James, do you realize that I'm never going to salute again, or
wear a uniform, or get wet--really wet, I mean--or examine men's feet,
or stand to attention when I'm spoken to, or--oh, lots more things. And
best of all, I'm never going to be frightened again. Have you ever known
what it is to be afraid--really afraid?

JAMES (embarrassed). I--er--well--(He coughs.)

PHILIP. No, you couldn't--not really afraid of death, I mean. Well,
that's over now. Good lord! I could spend the rest of my life in the
British Museum and be happy....

JAMES (getting up). All right, we'll try you in the office. I expect you
want a holiday first, though.

PHILIP (getting up). My dear uncle, this is holiday. Being in London
is holiday. Buying an evening paper--wearing a waistcoat again--running
after a bus--anything--it's all holiday.

JAMES. All right, then, come along with me now, and I'll introduce you
to Mr. Bamford.

PHILIP. Right. Who's he?

JAMES. Our manager. A little stiff, but a very good fellow. He'll be
delighted to hear that you are coming into the firm.

PHILIP (smiling). Perhaps I'd better bring my revolver, in case he
isn't.

JAMES (laughing with forced heartiness as they go together to the door).
Ha, ha! A good joke that! Ha, ha, ha! A good joke--but only a joke, of
course. Ha, ha! He, he, he!

[PHILIP goes out. JAMES, following him, turns at the door, and looks
round the room in a bewildered way. Was it