PEEKIN [He has hurriedly consulted with the others. All have
risen--he turns to GEOFFREY.] You will not support our demand?
GEOFFREY Support it! Do you mean that you cannot yourselves see
that you are holding out an indemnity to every profligate, male and
female, throughout the land--that you would be handicapping, in the
struggle for existence, every honest man and woman desirous of
bringing up their children in honour and in love? Your suggestion
is monstrous!
PEEKIN [The little man is not without his dignity.] We apologise,
Mr. Chilvers, for having taken up your time.
GEOFFREY I am sorry the matter was one offering so little chance
of agreement.
PEEKIN We will make only one slight further trespass on your
kindness. Mrs. Chilvers, if one may judge, would seem to be more
in sympathy with our views. Might we--it would be a saving of time
and shoe leather [he smiles]--might we take this opportunity of
laying our case before her?
GEOFFREY It would be useless.
[A short silence.
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