in each
hand, and parcels under each arm.)_

Aurora. This way, miss. The doctor's very busy, but----

Doctor. _(not hearing, writes)_ "What wouldn't I give to have you
here now." _(takes out coppers)_ Sevenpence ha-penny!

Flora. _(slyly behind him C.)_ Is Doctor Sheppard in?

Doctor. _(absently)_ Good afternoon. Won't you sit down? Now,
what can I do for you? What's the trouble, eh?

Flora. The trouble?

Doctor. Oh, it's my wife! _(rushes into her arms)_ Flo!

Flora. Jack! _(kisses him)_

Aurora. _(gasps, aside)_ 'Appy patient!

_(Exit Aurora.)_

Doctor. Delighted to see you, my dear Flo--most unexpected
pleasure--only sorry you can't stop the night.

Flora. _(surprised)_ Jack! I've come to stop for ever.

Doctor. _(releasing her suddenly)_ You can't--you mustn't!

Flora. But I can and I must! I can't live apart from you, Jack.
I've tried it all the morning, and I can't. _(falls in his arms)_

Doctor. But you must live apart from me--for--for a day or two.
There's a lady coming to-morrow who mustn't see you here for
anything.

Flora. _(by sofa C.)_ A lady! The first day of our honeymoon! Who
is she? _(pauses)_ A patient?

Doctor. _(smiling and shaking his head)_ Better than a hundred
patients.

Flora. What's she coming for? Tell me--tell me at once.

Doctor. _(putting his arm round her assuredly)_ My dear little
wifie, she's only my maiden aunt.

Flora. Oh, Jack, are you _sure_ she's a maiden aunt?

Doctor. Quite! Here's her letter, _(crosses to sofa, takes it
from his pocket and gives it to her)_ Now are you satisfied,
jealous little woman?

Flora. Forgive me, Jack. I can't help being jealous of everybody
and everything--I love you so much!

Doctor. _(round on to sofa)_ I know you do--and see what luck
you've brought me. _(pointing to letter which she is reading)_
I told you we shouldn't go wrong if we followed Quayle's advice.
Auntie's coming to-morrow, and she's going to do all that money
can----

Flora. _(reading letter)_ To-day, Jack--she's coming _to-day_.
This letter was written yesterday.

Doctor. _(suddenly)_ What a fool I am! Where's the Bradshaw?
_(crosses to table, turns over leaves of Bradshaw, hurriedly)_
Ambleside! A! Where's A! Acton, Aldersgate, Ambleside, here we
are! Good gracious! She's nearly here! _(crosses to Flo)_
Flo, it will never do to greet her with a story of a secret
marriage--she'd be simply horrified! It's very hard to part--it's
been a short and unsat