back yet

Ruby. Two days ago? That lady's case must be serious! _(comes to
back of sofa and sits L. end)_

Aurora. It is serious, miss, I tell yer. _(confidentially)_ It's
a case of----

Plant.. _(yells in her ear)_ Ahem! _That_ will do!

Aurora. Sorry I spoke!

Plant. Very unusual for smoke to hang about for forty-eight
hours.

Tupper. Oh,that's nothin', sir. 'E's wonderful unusual in 'is
'abits.

Aurora. 'As a biled egg for 'is dinner orfen. _(to Ruby)_

Ruby. _(to Pearl)_ Poor fellow! He must be starving!

_(Tupper looks admiringly at Ruby. and goes to fire, stands back
to it, legs apart.)_

Plant., _(aside)_ "Poor fellow!" He'll be rich enough before
the day's out. It's hard not to tell one's own daughter--but I
mustn't betray a professional confidence.

Tupper. _(aside)_ Fine gels! _(to Ruby)_ 'E'll be wonderful glad
to see you, Miss.

Ruby. How do you know?

Tupper. 'Cos 'e's settin' up as a ladies' Doctor. miss, an'
you're the fust callers we've ever 'ad. _(aside)_ Bar the tailor.

Ruby. The first? _(to Pearl)_ He _is_ starving!

Aurora. Oh, 'e'll cure yer, whatever yer got. _(crosses to
Plant)_ He's wonderful clever. 'E'd see through you, sir, weskit
an' all. 'E don't hax no hex rays to tell 'im. _(to Ruby)_ 'E
knows all what's goin' on in yer innards----

Plant. Ahem! That will do. Er--no doubt, no doubt.

Tupper. No bloomin' doubt, sir. _(going to him)_ But I do 'ope
you'll pay afore leavin'--'cos it's Lady Day, an these 'ere
clothes ain't paid for yet--an' if they ain't--they're a-comin'
orf.

Plant. That'll _do!_ We don't want to hear any fairy tales.

Tupper. _(sadly)_ There ain't no tails about these 'ere.
_(looking at his jacket)_ It's a norrible fac'!

Plant. You can go--_(to Tupper)_ both of you. _(to Aurora)_

Aurora. _(having fetched pail--to Tupper)_ Come aw'y, you talk
too much. _I'm_ the doctor's local demon when 'e's aw'y.

_(Exeunt Tupper and Aurora.)_

Plant. Nice sort of servants for a doctor to have. _(puts book on
couch)_

Pearl. _(to Ruby. who is reading a letter)_ Who's that from?

Ruby. Lieutenant Merry!

Pearl. Oh, let me read it!

_(They read it together.)_

Plant. _(aside)_ A thousand a year for an unbusinesslike young
fool, and here am I, her own cousin's husband, and she's never
given me a penny, except what I've borrowed. _(Bus. with pocket
hairbrush, mirror at back)_ I did think my chance had come when
she sent for me to Cumberland. I got the