Crampton monologue (Act 2) — You Never Can Tell

(heartrent) She told you what I am--a father--a father robbed of his children. What are the hearts of this generation like? Am I to come here after all these years--to see what my children are for the first time! to hear their voices!--and carry it all off like a fashionable visitor; drop in to lunch; be Mr. Crampton--M i s t e r Crampton! What right have they to talk to me like that? I'm their father: do they deny that? I'm a man, with the feelings of our common humanity: have I no rights, no claims? In all these years who have I had round me? Servants, clerks, business acquaintances. I've had respect from them--aye, kindness. Would one of them have spoken to me as that girl spoke?--would one of them have laughed at me as that boy was laughing at me all the time? (Frantically.) My own children! M i s t e r Crampton! My--