p to
couch)_

Aurora. 'Cos 'e was thirsty, o' course, yer silly kite.

Tupper. Thirsty! It was to bring 'im up to the scratch!

Aurora. _(aside)_ The scratch! My 'eart! My 'eart! _(top of
ladder)_

Tupper. I bet my buttons 'e's enj'ying 'is 'oneymoon in 'is noo
clothes, an' forgotten all abart me an' mine. _(up stage R.)_

Aurora. _(curiously)_ _Your_ noo clothes?

Tupper. Yes, I was loored into these under false pretences. When
Mrs. O'Hara engaged me, she says she'd let orf 'er ground floor
to a very risin' doctor.

Aurora. So 'e is! The day _will_ come, 'e'll be the most
risin'--_(gesticulates with feather-duster, on steps, nearly
falls)_

Tupper. Do you want to 'ear abart my trarsers, or do you not?
_(sits on couch)_

Aurora. Yes, Tupper, o' course I do--get 'em orf yer chest.

Tupper. Well, Mrs. O'Hara, _she_ sez, 'e'll find yer in clothes,
she sez, an' think of all the gratooities----

Aurora. Great--who?

Tupper. Gratooities from grateful patients--shillins an'
'arf-crowns, she sez. Well, we been at it three months to-day--

Aurora. _(sadly)_ An' not a blessed patient 'as called yet.
_(comes down)_

Tupper. No, but the _tailor's_ called, lots o' times, an' larst
time 'e was very cross--said 'e'd 'ave these clothes orf me if
they wasn't paid for Lady Day. _(crosses to R. of table)_

Aurora. Oh! the person! Never mind; the day will come.

Tupper. The day 'as come! _(takes up pile of letters)_

Aurora. Well, never mind, look at all these--all from lady
patients, _(sits in Doctor's chair, puts on his eye-glasses)_

Tupper. _(laughing)_ Lady patients! Why, they're bills. That's
the butcher, _(puts it down)_ An' that's the chemist.

Aurora. Oh! 'e can read!

Tupper. _(puts it down)_ I know 'em all! _(reads)_ "Cummerbund
and Co., Tailors." Oh lor! That's me! _(drops the pack suddenly)_
I call it downright selfish of the doctor to go away and never
think of me. _(produces crumpled telegram from pocket)_ Oh, I
forgot, this is for you! _(hands it to her)_

Aurora. Silly kid!

Tupper. Who's it from? Your young man? _(reads wire over Aurora's
shoulder)_

Aurora. _(opening it)_ 'Arf a mo'! It's from the dear Doctor.
_(aside)_ I'd know 'is 'and writing anywheres, it's sich a sorft
'and. _(reads word for word)_ "Expect -- me -- back -- at -- half
-- past -- four -- and --: please -- have -- my -- tea -- ready."

Tupper. _(counts words on his fingers--sadly)_ There's
extravagance. Blues a tenpen