Wrigley. I think not, Mrs. Munning. I've a notion that you'll weigh things up and come to seeing this my way. I've not come here to quarrel with my relations to be, but I'll just point out that Wilson's of Norton are getting business off you every day and you can't afford a scandal in your line of trade.
Mrs. Munning. Be careful, Wrigley. Threats of that kind have a nasty name.
Wrigley. I'm not afraid of names. Come here, Martha. We've given them enough to think about.
Wrigley. I'll look in later for your answer. (_Opens door._)
Mrs. Munning. You can. I'll give it you. It's this, that----
Paul. Zack can go with you now to see the vicar, Joe.
Zack. But I don't want to marry her. I don't indeed.
Paul. You've made your bed and you'll lie on it. I'll stir no hand to save you.
Paul. I've got my reasons, mother, and they're sound.
Zack. There's no great hurry, is there, Paul?
Paul. If a thing's to be done, it's best done quick. We'll have the banns put up on Sunday.
Wrigley. You're in a mighty haste. It's giving things a queerish twist to me.
Paul. When I've to take a dose of physic, I don't play round because it's got a filthy taste. I get it down.
Martha. I'm sure I'll try to make you a good wife, Zack.
Zack. If it comes to the worst, I'll try and all. But we might both try and make a mess of it for all we tried. I'm against this, Martha, and it's no good wrapping up the truth. I don't favour it and I can't see sense in it at all.
Paul. You've gone a bit too far to talk like that, my lad.
Zack. I wouldn't say I'd gone at all, not knowingly, I mean. It's happened like, somehow, and I'll say this much or brast for it. It'll be the mistake of your life, Martha. I'm not cut out for a husband of yours. If ever you get wed----
Zack. Well, I don't favour it. I've as good a right to my opinion as anybody else and I say it's not fair doing to Martha.
Wrigley. Is Martha all you're thinking of?
Zack. There's me as well, and I tell you what I told you down in Bealey's shop. I'm always one to take the short road out of trouble and I'm ready to oblige you. But I don't like it and the more I think about Martha the worse it looks to saddle her with me. Martha's the helpless sort and I'm the helpless sort and you don't make two soft people into strong by wedding them together. She'd try to lean on me and I'd try to lean on her and there'd be nothing there to lean on. It's like trying to make weak tea strong by watering the pot. Martha'll only wed with trouble when she weds a gormless chap like me, and I don't favour it. I see no sense in it at all, and it's no use saying I do, because I don't.