LAURA.  He’s so crushed!  And that despair that shuts me out!  Why is it?  Why is it that a woman loves a man most when he has nothing—­and he wants her only when he has everything else?  What’s going to happen to us?

BISHOP.  Everything will be all right, my child.  Kenneth has suffered a bitter blow to his pride.  But he’ll sober up and resign himself to the situation.

LAURA.  Resign himself?

BISHOP.  We must make him see that that is the only thing to do.

LAURA.  But is it?  Is there no hope of a real position?

BISHOP.  Prescott gave me his word when I—­when we made the arrangement—­that he would make a real place for Kenneth as soon as he could.

LAURA.  So far he hasn’t.

BISHOP.  It’s a matter of time.  Business is greatly improved.  Building must revive by the spring.  Therefore, don’t you see, if our boy is patient until then ... [LAURA shakes her head.] We must make him go on.  If he gives it up now he may lose a real opportunity.  That is what you and I must make him see!  The opportunity ahead.

LAURA.  He couldn’t go on.

BISHOP.  He must.

LAURA.  No.  Why must he?

BISHOP. [Tenderly.] A family, my dear, is a very conclusive argument.

LAURA.  Family?  What do you mean?

BISHOP. [Still with his tender sentimentality.] I take it, since
Kenneth spoke of a wife and baby ...

LAURA. [Half-laughing.] Oh!—­Thank God, no!

BISHOP.  But he said ...

LAURA.  That was just rhetoric.—­I am not having any babies until I see some security for them.

BISHOP.  Many of the unemployed do have children.

LAURA.  I’ll have them only when I can see safety for them.

BISHOP.  Yes, yes.  Well, I only thought that ...

LAURA.  That if a child were coming, Ken would have to knuckle under.

BISHOP.  Such responsibility has always been the most powerful force to make man go along the path of duty, even though the way seemed hard.

LAURA.  At least I have spared Ken that!  He can do as he pleases. 
I am still working, and can take care of myself.

BISHOP.  Yes, quite right.  That is the way we must present it to him.  That he need consider only himself.

LAURA.  Poor Ken.  What can he ...

BISHOP.  Sh!

[KEN enters, followed by MARTIN and TIPPY.]

KEN.  Who said I had no manners! [To BISHOP and LAURA, with absurd, ironic dignity.] The boys say I wasn’t a gentleman.  I apologize.

LAURA.  Never mind, Ken.

KEN.  A man ought to be a gentleman, even to his wife. [She turns away.  To his father.] A man ought to respect his father.  I apologize.

BISHOP.  I accept your apology, son.

KEN. [To boys.] There you are!  I apologized to my father.  He accepted my apology. [To LAURA.] I apologize.