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I am sorry. I try to avoid meals with John as much as possible.
LEt.i.tIA
You've been here eight weeks and John and I know nothing of you. For me it is enough that you are here; but John is the head of the family and he feels that you ought to treat him with greater deference.
NATHANIEL
It is revolting to me to have a tsar in the family.
LEt.i.tIA
Your father and your father's father and grandfather were rulers of the Clay family.
NATHANIEL
I don't question that.
LEt.i.tIA
You can't change John.
NATHANIEL
I don't want to change John.
LEt.i.tIA
Then why not tell him something about yourself?
NATHANIEL
It is none of John's affairs how or why I live. It is none of his affair how or why or when I shall marry Mlle. Perrault.
LEt.i.tIA
Perhaps not.
NATHANIEL
When I tell him anything, Aunt Letty, it will be one thing--I have stayed here because I love Jonathan, because he needs me. And I have listened to the boy's fears and to his hopes as they came out of his poor tortured little soul in his delirium. I have watched him during his convalescence, and I see in him a growing man in prison. John sees in him only the potential head of the family; but he is my flesh and blood as much as he is John's and I intend to set him free.
LEt.i.tIA
My beloved Nathaniel, John will not give Jonathan up to you.
NATHANIEL
I don't want Jonathan unless he wants to come to me, but I do want Jonathan's freedom.
LEt.i.tIA
Isn't he a bit young to have _freedom_.
NATHANIEL
Aunt Let.i.tia, I don't mean a silly license.--I mean freedom. If you are cultivating a peach-tree you don't expect oranges on it even if it could wish to be an orange tree, but you can help to make it bear better peaches.
Jonathan isn't a mechanical business person. His bent is in another direction.
LEt.i.tIA
What are you going to do?
NATHANIEL
Frankly, I do not know.
[_Up to window._
All I know now is that I shall stay here until I find a plan.
[_Jonathan enters._
JONATHAN
Where is Uncle John?
NATHANIEL
He has gone for a stroll.
LEt.i.tIA
What do you want, my dear?
JONATHAN
Uncle John sent word that he wanted to see me here at 7:30.
[_Let.i.tia and Nathaniel look at each other._
_Jonathan takes out a large silver watch._
It's 7:29 now.
NATHANIEL
John will be on time--count sixty slowly--
