NATHANIEL

No.

JOHN

What are you?

NATHANIEL

For the present I am Jonathan's uncle.

JOHN

You have nothing to do with Jonathan.

NATHANIEL

The boy is not going to Somerset School.

JOHN

Nathaniel, I shall not tolerate your interference. Now I must ask you to leave this house.

NATHANIEL

What?

LEt.i.tIA

John... Nathaniel... my boys, it isn't my way to interfere; but please for my sake, for your mother's sake--think what you're doing.

JOHN (_With some tenderness he lays his hand on Let.i.tia's_)

I have thought, Aunt Let.i.tia. I can not allow this boy's life to be ruined as Emily's and Henry's and Nathaniel's were.

NATHANIEL

Ruined? John, I'll tell you how ruined my life has been and I'll tell you in terms you'll understand. My income last year was over $350,000!

JOHN

Are you acting now?

NATHANIEL

Yes, I'm acting--I'm acting in terms that you will understand.... You know that I'm your brother Nathaniel. Do you know who else I am? I am a writer and a playwright and a director in the United Baking Company and a stockholder in the National Munitions Company--munitions, John; think of it, millions, millions in them--and I'm willing and eager to take Emily's boy and educate him in the way he wants to live his life.

JOHN

What are these heroics?

NATHANIEL

I mean what I say. If need be I shall use brute force, financial force or any kind of force to free Jonathan from the misery that I endured in this house.

JOHN

You had everything you wanted.

NATHANIEL

Everything except freedom to think my own thoughts. John, some people are like reinforced concrete. Someone builds the iron frame and the wooden molds, then pours the cement and when it has hardened, the molds are removed and lo, you have a monolith--a solid unchangeable stone.

JOHN

You talk very well, Nathaniel, but I shall insist upon bringing up my sister's child in my way.

NATHANIEL

Would you have him run away as I did?

JOHN

He will never run away again. He has had his lesson.

[_Jonathan enters carrying a suit case._

JONATHAN

May I speak to you, Uncle John?

JOHN

What are you doing with that suit case?

JONATHAN

I'm going away.

JOHN

Who gave you permission?

JONATHAN

n.o.body.... I've been thinking since a little while ago and at first I thought I'd run away again; but that wouldn't be quite fair--so I came to tell you.

JOHN