GERALD.
There I quite agree, Rose, but first of all he"s an Irishman, and it"s right that he should be educated in Ireland.
ROSE.
Darling Gerald, a mother"s love is naturally the safest guide in these things.
GERALD.
Dearest Rose, a father"s wisdom is always the most reliable.
LADY FREDERICK.
Pardon my interfering, but--aren"t you just a little previous?
ADMIRAL.
[_Bursting out._] Did you ever hear such a conversation in your life between a young unmarried couple?
ROSE.
My dear papa, we must be prepared for everything.
ADMIRAL.
In my youth young ladies did not refer to things of that sort.
LADY FREDERICK.
Well, I don"t suppose they"re any the worse for having an elementary knowledge of natural history. Personally I doubt whether ignorance is quite the same thing as virtue, and I"m not quite sure that a girl makes a better wife because she"s been brought up like a perfect fool.
ADMIRAL.
I am old-fashioned, Lady Frederick; and my idea of a modest girl is that when certain topics are mentioned she should swoon. Swoon, madam, swoon. They always did it when I was a lad.
ROSE.
Well, father, I"ve often tried to faint when I wanted something that you wouldn"t give me, and I"ve never been able to manage it. So I"m sure I couldn"t swoon.
ADMIRAL.
And with regard to this ridiculous discussion as to which University your son is to be sent, you seem to forget that I have the right to be consulted.
GERALD.
My dear Admiral, I don"t see how it can possibly matter to you.
ADMIRAL.
And before we go any further I should like you to know that the very day Rose was born I determined that her son should go to Cambridge.
ROSE.
My dear papa, I think Gerald and I are far and away the best judges of our son"s welfare.
ADMIRAL.
The boy must work, Rose. I will have no good-for-nothing as my grandson.
GERALD.
Exactly. And that is why I"m resolved he shall go to Dublin.
ROSE.
The important thing is that he should have really nice manners, and that they teach at Oxford if they teach nothing else.
LADY FREDERICK.
Well, don"t you think you"d better wait another twenty years or so before you discuss this?
ADMIRAL.
There are some matters which must be settled at once, Lady Frederick.
LADY FREDERICK.
You know, young things are fairly independent nowadays. I don"t know what they"ll be in twenty years" time.
GERALD.
The first thing the boy shall learn is obedience.
ROSE. Certainly. There"s nothing so hateful as a disobedient child.
ADMIRAL.
I can"t see my grandson venturing to disobey me.
LADY FREDERICK.
Then you"re all agreed. So that"s settled. I came to tell you your carriage was ready.
ADMIRAL.
Go and put on your bonnet, Rose. [_To_ LADY FREDERICK.] Are you coming with us?
LADY FREDERICK.