ween him and Ruby)_ If
such is your determination, I will sacrifice myself.

Plant. _(contemptuously)_ You!

Ruby. _(rushing to Pearl)_ You shan't!

Pearl. I will--what is it after all? Marriages aren't made in
heaven now-a-days.

Ruby. No, no, Pearl. you're too good. I'd rather marry him
myself.

Pearl. You can't--you know you can't--you're engaged.

Ruby. Sneak! _(pinches her arm)_

_(Pearl howls.)_

Plant. _(shouts)_ Stop quarrelling! Such rivalry between sisters
is most unseemly. What do I dress you alike for?

Pearl. To save expense.

Plant. No, miss, to save _jealousy_, and I'll have no Jealousy
about this. Settle it amicably between you, _(aside, crosses to
R.)_ Good idea! They'll go it faster without me. I'll leave 'em
alone with him. _(aloud)_ Dear, dear, I've forgotten something
I particularly want to show Jack. I'll step over to our
apartments----

Ruby. Pa, you can't leave us alone in a bachelor's room!

Plant. Hang it, you're cousins, and you're two to one. Now,
remember, _one of you two must marry Jack_--that's my last word,
and you know my word, like my profession, is law!

_(Exit Plant.)_

Pearl. We've got a nice thing in fathers, _(looking out of
window)_ He's brought us up to London to put us on the market

Ruby. Yes, and by a cheap excursion. _(goes L.)_

Pearl. Now we know why we've come to encamp just across the
street--it's to lay siege to a penniless cousin. _(picks up
"Quayle on Muscles" off couch, takes it to table)_

Ruby. _(at small table up stage L., opens case, shrieks)_ Ach!
knives!

Pearl. _(looks up from book)_ _You_ wouldn't do for a doctor's
wife, whatever Pa says, _(looks at picture)_ Besides, you're not
free, but I am. _(sadly)_

Ruby. Pearl. there's Waverly! _(coming to her, looking over her
shoulder at picture)_

Pearl. Yes, there's Waverly, but he's _(turns to next picture)_
most disappointing. He's been staying at Southsea with Lieutenant
Merry for a whole week, _(turns page)_ and father's been away
the whole time. _(turns page)_ And I've given him every possible
encouragement. _(looks at picture)_ At least, of course I
didn't go so far as _you_ did with Lieutenant Merry. You
were--simply--_(turns page)_

Ruby. _(looking at picture)_ Shocking! _(shuts book and puts it
back on couch)_

Pearl. Yes, you were! _(laughs)_

Ruby. How dare you! I never gave Andrew the slightest
encouragement, _(sits on sofa)_

Pearl. My dear Ruby. I judge by results.