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Rh dren have sure intuitions. He feels cheated of your love—by me. So he’s concentrating his affections on Sam whose love he knows is secure, and withdrawing from you.

[Frightened—angrily]

Don’t be stupid, Ned! That isn’t so at all! I hate you when you talk that way!

[Cynically]

Hate me, exactly. As he does! That’s what I’m advising you to do if you want to keep his love!

[He smiles grimly]

[Sharply]

If Gordon doesn’t love you it’s because you’ve never made the slightest attempt to be lovable to him! There’s no earthly reason why he should like you, when you come right down to it, Ned! Take today, for instance. It’s his birthday but you’d forgotten, or didn’t care! You never even brought him a present.

[With bitter sadness]

I did bring him a present. It’s out in the hall. I bought him a costly delicate one so he could get full satisfaction and yet not strain himself when he smashed it, as he’s smashed every present of mine in the past! And I left it out in the hall, to be given to him after I’ve gone because, after all, he is my son and I’d prefer he didn’t smash it before my eyes!