. His entrance is
quite dramatic. He walks with the help of a stick, slowly, but his
bearing is soldierly, authoritative, impressive. He halts when he
perceives the committee.)

HILLMAN (going up to GEORGE). How are you, Captain?

FERSEN. Good to have you home once more.

RENCH (going up to GEORGE). Good to see you, Captain, on a day like
this. As Larz Fersen said when we were going to strike, "It's a fine day
for it." Well, this is a better day--you home and well, and the strike
off.

GEORGE (glancing from one to the other, and then at ASHER). What do you
mean?

RENCH. Why, Mr. Pindar--your father here's just made everybody happy.
He's recognized the union, and we're going back to work. We'll turn
out machines to make shrapnel enough to kill every Hun in France,--get
square with 'em for what they done to you.

(They all watch GEORGE, absorbed in the effect this announcement has
on him. An expression of happiness grows in his eyes. After a
moment he goes up to ASHER.)

GEORGE. Dad, why did you do this?

ASHER. I'll tell you, George. When you came home this afternoon I
realized something I hadn't realized before. I saw that the tide was
against me, that I was like that old English king who set his throne
on the sands and thought he could stay the waters. If--if anything had
happened to you, I couldn't have fought on, but now that you're here
with me again, now that you've risked your life and almost lost it for
this--this new order in which you believe, why, it's enough for me--I
can surrender with honour. I'm tired, I need a rest. I'd have gone
down fighting, but I guess you've saved me. I've been true to my
convictions,--you, who belong to the new generation, must be true to
yours. And as I told you once, all I care about this business is to hand
it over to you.

GEORGE. You'll help me!

ASHER. This seems to be Jonathan's speciality,--science. But I never
give my word half heartedly, my boy, and I'll back you to my last
dollar. Be prepared for disappointments,--but if you accomplish
something, I'll be glad. And if you fail, George,--any failure for a
man's convictions is a grand failure.

GEORGE. Well, it means life to me, dad. I owe it to you.

ASHER (turning toward DR. JONATHAN). No, you owe it to him,--to science.

(He puts one hand on GEORGE'S shoulder, and the other, with an
abrupt movement, on DR. JONATHAN'S.)

And if science will do as much for democracy, then--

GEOR