Builder Seizes her by the shoulders and shakes her vigorously.  When he drops her shoulders, she gets up, gives him a vicious look, and suddenly stamps her foot on his toe with all her might.

Builder. [With a yowl of pain] You little devil!

Maud. [Who has put the table between them] I won’t stand being shaken.

Builder. [Staring at her across the table] You’ve got my temper up and you’ll take the consequences.  I’ll make you toe the line.

Maud.  If you knew what a Prussian expression you’ve got!

     Builder passes his hand across his face uneasily, as if to wipe
     something off.

No!  It’s too deep!

Builder.  Are you my daughter or are you not?

Maud.  I certainly never wanted to be.  I’ve always disliked you, father, ever since I was so high.  I’ve seen through you.  Do you remember when you used to come into the nursery because Jenny was pretty?  You think we didn’t notice that, but we did.  And in the schoolroom—­Miss Tipton.  And d’you remember knocking our heads together?  No, you don’t; but we do.  And—­

Builder.  You disrespectful monkey!  Will you be quiet?

Maud.  No; you’ve got to hear things.  You don’t really love anybody but yourself, father.  What’s good for you has to be good for everybody.  I’ve often heard you talk about independence, but it’s a limited company and you’ve got all the shares.

Builder.  Rot; only people who can support themselves have a right to independence.

Maud.  That’s why you don’t want me to support myself.

Builder.  You can’t!  Film, indeed!  You’d be in the gutter in a year. 
Athene’s got her pittance, but you—­you’ve got nothing.

Maud.  Except my face.

Builder.  It’s the face that brings women to ruin, my girl.

Maud.  Well, when I’m there I won’t come to you to rescue me.

Builder.  Now, mind—­if you leave my house, I’ve done with you.

Maud.  I’d rather scrub floors now, than stay.

Builder. [Almost pathetically] Well, I’m damned!  Look here, Maud—­ all this has been temper.  You got my monkey up.  I’m sorry I shook you; you’ve had your revenge on my toes.  Now, come!  Don’t make things worse for me than they are.  You’ve all the liberty you can reasonably want till you marry.

Maud.  He can’t see it—­he absolutely can’t!

Builder.  See what?

Maud.  That I want to live a life of my own.

     He edges nearer to her, and she edges to keep her distance.

Builder.  I don’t know what’s bitten you.

Maud.  The microbe of freedom; it’s in the air.

Builder.  Yes, and there it’ll stay—­that’s the first sensible word you’ve uttered.  Now, come!  Take your hat off, and let’s be friends!