He proposed to you the
second day. _(comes and sits by her on sofa)_

Ruby. What about you? You let Waverly kiss you.

Pearl. Only once--just there; _(touches her cheek)_ and that was
after a dance, which doesn't count. No, I've gone as far with Mr.
Vane as any girl, who isn't a born flirt, _(pointedly looking
at Ruby)_ can go, and he's said nothing--yet So I'm going to get
father to invite Doctor Sheppard down to Southsea, and I'll flirt
_desperately_ with him.

_(Ruby crosses C.)_You see, I shall be obeying father--I shall
get you out of your difficulty, and it will force _Waverly_ to
say something--definite, _(sits on the word)_

Ruby. Oh, Pearl! What a clever idea! _(thinks)_ _Andrew_ hasn't
been _quite_ so attentive since I accepted him. And, as you say,
dear papa must be obeyed, so I'll flirt with Doctor Sheppard too,
before Andrew--it'll do him a _world_ of good.

Pearl. Doctor Sheppard!

Ruby. No, _Andrew_, of course. Oh, Pearl. I wonder how they're
getting on without us? Do they ever talk about us, do you think?

Pearl. Of course they do--_everybody_ talks about us--in
Southsea.

Andrew. _(heard off)_ Not in? P'raps he's got a patient.
_(laughs)_

Ruby. It's Andrew! How do I look? _(jumps up and looks in
mirror)_

_(Pearl tries to pull her away from it--Enter Andrew. followed by
Waverly.)_

Waverly. _(looking at girls' backs and nudges Andrew)_ P'raps
he's got two patients.

Andrew. Oh, Susannah! _(takes double stethoscope off table, aside
to Waverly)_ Let's have a lark. I'll pretend to be the doctor.

Waver. No, no, never joke about business, _(scuffles to get
stethoscope)_

_(Ruby looks round.)_

Andrew. Ruby! _(goes to her with outstretched arms)_

_(Pearl looks round.)_

Waver. _(aside)_ Pearl! Oh, lor! _(goes down r.)_ Pearl.
_(coyly)_ Mr. Vane! What attraction has brought you all the way
from Southsea? _(follows him)_

_(Waverly looks confused.)_

Andrew. _(to Ruby)_ What's brought you? We called at Clarence
Parade this morning and found that you'd flown up to London by
the excurs--the early train, so we thought what a lark it'd be to
run up on the chance of meeting you.

Waver. We didn't expect to find you at the doctor's.

Andrew. No. _(to Ruby. anxiously)_ Are you ill?

Ruby. _(laughing)_ No.

Waver, _(to Pearl. wearily)_ Don't say it's _you_.

Pearl. I'm _never_ ill. What's the matter with you?

Waver. _I've_ only come with _Andrew_, _(tries to cross to
Andrew)_