uspended. He drinks the
brandy off as she shuts the door.

BUILDER. Life isn't all roses, Ralph.

RALPH. Sorry, old man.

BUILDER. I sometimes think I try myself too high. Well, about that
Welsh contract?

RALPH. Let's take it.

BUILDER. If you'll attend to it. Frankly, I'm too upset.

As they go towards the door into the hall, MAUD comes in from the
dining-room, in hat and coat.

RALPH. [Catching sight of her] Hallo! All well in your cosmogony, Maud?

MAUD. What is a cosmogony, Uncle?

RALPH. My dear, I--I don't know.

He goes out, followed by BUILDER. MAUD goes quickly to the table,
sits down and rests her elbows on it, her chin on her hands, looking
at the door.

BUILDER. [Re-entering] Well, Maud! You'd have won your bet!

MAUD. Oh! father, I--I've got some news for you.

BUILDER. [Staring at her] News--what?

MAUD. I'm awfully sorry, but I-I've got a job.

BUILDER. Now, don't go saying you're going in for Art, too, because I
won't have it.

MAUD. Art? Oh! no! It's the--[With a jerk]--the Movies.

BUILDER. who has taken up a pipe to fill, puts it down.

BUILDER. [Impressively] I'm not in a joking mood.

MAUD. I'm not joking, father.

BUILDER. Then what are you talking about?

MAUD. You see, I--I've got a film face, and--

BUILDER. You've what? [Going up to his daughter, he takes hold of her
chin] Don't talk nonsense! Your sister has just tried me to the limit.

MAUD. [Removing his hand from her chin] Don't oppose it, father, please!
I've always wanted to earn my own living.

BUILDER. Living! Living!

MAUD. [Gathering determination] You can't stop me, father, because I
shan't need support. I've got quite good terms.

BUILDER. [Almost choking, but mastering himself] Do you mean to say
you've gone as far as that?

MAUD. Yes. It's all settled.

BUILDER. Who put you up to this?

MAUD. No one. I've been meaning to, ever so long. I'm twenty-one, you
know.

BUILDER. A film face! Good God! Now, look here! I will not have a
daughter of mine mixed up with the stage. I've spent goodness knows what
on your education--both of you.

MAUD. I don't want to be ungrateful; but I--I can't go on living at
home.

BUILDER. You can't--! Why? You've every indulgence.

MAUD. [Clearly and coldly] I can remember occasions when your
indulgence hurt, father. [She wriggles her shoulders and back] We never
forg