_ Jack? How dare you! _(crosses to Flo and comes
back)_ He's my Jack!

_(Aurora gasps again.)_

Aunt. _(aside)_ Oh, he's her Jack now! It gets worse and worse!

Pearl. To be strictly accurate, Doctor Sheppard is our Jack!

Aunt. _(aside)_ Our Jack! This is too much!

_(Aurora gasps louder.)_

Flora. What do you mean?

Pearl. It is my father's wish that one of us should marry him.

Aurora. _(screams)_ Oh, 'Evvings! They're going to marry my Jack!
_(coming down--falls on her knees facing audience C.)_

Aunt. _(aside)_ Her Jack! That's four of them! They all love
Jack!

Flora. _(to Aurora)_ Your Jack!

Aurora. _(kneeling)_ Yuss! I love Mm with a secret passion and I
don't care who knows it! _(rises)_

Aunt. It's a perfect harem! _(makes her escape towards door and
Exits still unobserved.)_

Aurora. _(C.)_ Don't you think because I'm only a servant, a
common slavey with L5 a year and a 'alf a pound o' sugar a week,
that I'm a-goin' to 'ave the _dear doctor_ took from me!

Flora. How dare you love him!

Aurora. And why not? 'Cos I wears a cap? Look 'ere! you three
girls is all settin' your caps at 'im. I'm in it too. _(throws
down cap)_--and I chucks darn the gimlet.

Pearl. You little stupid!

Aurora. _(crying)_ Yuss! I know I'm a little stupid, but which o'
you would put yer 'ole soul into cleanin' 'is boots, as I does?
Which o' you would buy 'im wittles out o' yer perks as _I_ does?
I may be a little stoopid, but I loves 'im more than all of yer
put together, and I'll struggle with yer, see if I don't!

_(Exit Aurora.)_

Ruby. _(to Flo)_ Are you going, Miss Garden, or are you not?

Pearl. It'll make your headache much worse if you stay here.

Flora. I shall ask the doctor to give me something to send it
away, _(makes herself comfortable on sofa, back to Pearl)_

Pearl. _(to Ruby)_ Isn't she a spiteful little cat!

Ruby. _(to Pearl)_ Never mind, she shan't interfere with our fun;
we can't leave those two sitting in that four-wheeler all day.
_(rises, comes to Pearl)_

Pearl. No, come along, We'll go and tell "auntie" to come in.

_(Exeunt Ruby and Pearl.)_

Flora. _(aside)_ I'll make Jack explain about those girls, or
I'll break off our--our honeymoon; they talk as if he was engaged
to both of them. Now I know why he was so desperately anxious to
hide me when their father called.

_(Enter Doctor. in pyjamas and eccentric Turkish dressing gown,
rubbing his head with a towel--Flo doesn't