otest; but Richard claps him heartily on his shoulder, adding) you
have given it up, haven't you? (releasing him with a playful push) of
course you have: quite right too; you overdid it. (He turns away from
Uncle William and makes for the sofa.) And now, where is that upright
horsedealer Uncle Titus? Uncle Titus: come forth. (He comes upon him
holding the chair as Judith sits down.) As usual, looking after the
ladies.

UNCLE TITUS (indignantly). Be ashamed of yourself, sir--

RICHARD (interrupting him and shaking his hand in spite of him). I am:
I am; but I am proud of my uncle--proud of all my relatives (again
surveying them) who could look at them and not be proud and joyful?
(Uncle Titus, overborne, resumes his seat on the sofa. Richard turns to
the table.) Ah, Mr. Anderson, still at the good work, still shepherding
them. Keep them up to the mark, minister, keep them up to the mark.
Come! (with a spring he seats himself on the table and takes up the
decanter) clink a glass with me, Pastor, for the sake of old times.

ANDERSON. You know, I think, Mr. Dudgeon, that I do not drink before
dinner.

RICHARD. You will, some day, Pastor: Uncle William used to drink before
breakfast. Come: it will give your sermons unction. (He smells the wine
and makes a wry face.) But do not begin on my mother's company sherry.
I stole some when I was six years old; and I have been a temperate man
ever since. (He puts the decanter down and changes the subject.) So I
hear you are married, Pastor, and that your wife has a most ungodly
allowance of good looks.

ANDERSON (quietly indicating Judith). Sir: you are in the presence of
my wife. (Judith rises and stands with stony propriety.)

RICHARD (quickly slipping down from the table with instinctive good
manners). Your servant, madam: no offence. (He looks at her earnestly.)
You deserve your reputation; but I'm sorry to see by your expression
that you're a good woman.

(She looks shocked, and sits down amid a murmur of indignant sympathy
from his relatives. Anderson, sensible enough to know that these
demonstrations can only gratify and encourage a man who is deliberately
trying to provoke them, remains perfectly goodhumored.) All the same,
Pastor, I respect you more than I did before. By the way, did I hear,
or did I not, that our late lamented Uncle Peter, though unmarried, was
a father?

UNCLE TITUS. He had only one irregular child, sir.

RICHARD. Only one! He thinks one a mere tr