hem both to come down for a
thorough discussion of the whole thing, on condition that they can go up
again if we don't come to terms.

MRS MARCH. Very well! I'm quite willing to meet him. I hate
quarrelling with Johnny.

MR MARCH. Good! I'll go myself. [He goes out.]

MARY. Mother, this isn't a coal strike; don't discuss it for three hours
and then at the end ask Johnny and the girl to do precisely what you're
asking them to do now.

MRS MARCH. Why should I?

MARY. Because it's so usual. Do fix on half-way at once.

MRS MARCH. There is no half-way.

MARY. Well, for goodness sake think of a plan which will make you both
look victorious. That's always done in the end. Why not let her stay,
and make Johnny promise only to see her in the presence of a third party?

MRS MARCH. Because she'd see him every day while he was looking for the
third party. She'd help him look for it.

MARY. [With a gurgle] Mother, I'd no idea you were so--French.

MRS MARCH. It seems to me you none of you have any idea what I am.

MARY. Well, do remember that there'll be no publicity to make either of
you look small. You can have Peace with Honour, whatever you decide.
[Listening] There they are! Now, Mother, don't be logical! It's so
feminine.

As the door opens, MRS MARCH nervously fortifies herself with the
third little glass of brandy. She remains seated. MARY is on her
right.

MR MARCH leads into the room and stands next his daughter, then
FAITH in hat and coat to the left of the table, and JOHNNY, pale but
determined, last. Assembled thus, in a half fan, of which MRS MARCH
is the apex, so to speak, they are all extremely embarrassed, and no
wonder.

Suddenly MARY gives a little gurgle.

JOHNNY. You'd think it funnier if you'd just come out of prison and were
going to be chucked out of your job, on to the world again.

FAITH. I didn't want to come down here. If I'm to go I want to go at
once. And if I'm not, it's my evening out, please.

She moves towards the door. JOHNNY takes her by the shoulders.

JOHNNY. Stand still, and leave it to me. [FAITH looks up at him,
hypnotized by his determination] Now, mother, I've come down at your
request to discuss this; are you ready to keep her? Otherwise up we go
again.

MR MARCH. That's not the way to go to work, Johnny. You mustn't ask
people to eat their words raw--like that.

JOHNNY. Well