PHOEBE. (_Interrupting her_.) Isn’t Annys here?
JANET. No. (_To_ GINGER.) Haven’t you found her?
GINGER. (_Shakes her head_.) Been everywhere I could think of.
PHOEBE. (_To herself_.) She couldn’t have gone home? Is there a
telephone here?
JANET. The room’s locked up.
JAWBONES. There’s one at 118, High Street. Shall I go, miss?
PHOEBE. No, thanks. I’ll go myself. Oh, what about the band?
JANET. Lady Mogton says she’d like it. If it isn’t too tired.
GINGER. It’s at Sell’s Coffee-’ouse in Piggott Street. I ’eard them
practising.
PHOEBE. Good. I shan’t be more than a few minutes.
ST. HERBERT. I’ll come with you, if I may? I’ve got some news that may
be of use to you.
PHOEBE. Do. (_To_ GINGER.) Stop here, I may want you.
(PHOEBE _and_ ST. HERBERT _go out_.)
JANET. How was Mrs. Chilvers seeming this afternoon?
GINGER. Never ’eard ’er speak better, miss.
JANET. Did you stop to the end?
GINGER. Not quite. Mrs. Spender wanted some shopping done.
(JANET _goes out_.)
GINGER. Can I ’elp yer?
JAWBONES. Yer might hold the piper while I blow.
(_The fire begins to burn_.)
GINGER. It’s getting brighter.
JAWBONES. That’s caught it.
GINGER. Wonderful what a little coaxing will do.
JAWBONES. (_He is still squatting on his heels_, _folding up the paper_.
_He looks up_.) Ain’t yer ever thought of that, instead of worrying
about the vote?
GINGER. (_She moves away_.) You don’t understand us wimmin.
JAWBONES. (_He has risen_. _He pauses in his folding of the paper_.)
Don’t say that.
GINGER. Why should we coax yer—for our rights?
JAWBONES. Because it’s the easiest way of getting ’em.
GINGER. (_She has become oratorical_.) Our appeal is not to man (_with
upraised hand_) but to Justice!
JAWBONES. Oh! And what does the lidy say?
GINGER. (_Descending_.) ’Ow do yer mean?
JAWBONES. To your appeal. Is she goin’ to give ’em to yer? You tike my
tip: if yer in a ’urry, you get a bit on account—from Man. ’Ere. (_He
dives into his pocket_, _produces_, _wrapped up in tissue paper_, _a
ring_, _which he exhibits to her_.) That’s a bit more in your line.
GINGER. (_Her eyes sparkle_. _She takes the ring in her hand_. _Then
problems come to her_.) Why do yer want me, William?
JAWBONES. Because, in spite of all, I love yer.
GINGER. (_She looks into the future_.) What will I be? A general
servant, without wages.
JAWBONES. The question, as it seems to me, is, which of us two is the
biggest fool? Instead of thirty bob a week in my pocket to spend as I
like—guess I’ll ’ave to be content with three ’alf-crowns.
GINGER. Seven an’ six! Rather a lot, Bill, out o’ thirty bob. Don’t
leave much for me an’ the children.
JAWBONES. I shall ’ave to get my dinners.
GINGER. I could mike yer somethin’ tasty to tike with yer. Then with,
say—three shillings—
JAWBONES. ’Ere—(_He is on the point of snatching back the ring_. _He
encounters her eyes_. _There is a moment’s battle_. _The Eternal
Feminine conquers_.) Will yer always look as sweet as yer do now?
GINGER. Always, Bill. So long as yer good to me!
(_She slips the ring over her finger_, _still with her eyes drawing
him_. _He catches her to him in fierce passion_, _kisses her_.)
(_A loud shrill female cheer comes from the crowd_. _The cheer is
renewed and renewed_.)
JAWBONES. (_He breaks away and goes to the window_.) ’Ullo! What are
they shoutin’ about now? (_He looks out_.) It’s the Donah!
GINGER. Mrs. Chilvers?
JAWBONES. Yus. Better not get wearin’ it—may shock their feelings.
GINGER. (_She gazes rapturously at the ring as she draws it off_.) It
is a beauty! I do love yer, Bill.
(_There enter_ ANNYS _and_ ELIZABETH. ANNYS _is excited_; _she is
laughing and talking_.)
ANNYS. (_Laughing while she rearranges her hat and hair_.) A little
embarrassing. That red-haired girl—she carried me right up the steps. I
was afraid she would—
(JAWBONES _has been quick enough to swing a chair into place just in
time to receive her_.)
(_She recovers herself_.) Thank you.
ELIZABETH. (_She hands_ ANNYS _a smelling-bottle_. _To_ JAWBONES.)
Open the window a few inches.
(_He does so_. _Some woman_, _much interrupted_, _is making a
speech_.)
(JANET _opens the door a little way and looks in_.)
JANET. Oh, it is you! I am glad!
(_She goes out again_.)
ELIZABETH. Are the others all here?
GINGER. ’Er ladyship is watching the counting. Miss Phoebe ’as just
gone out—
(PHOEBE _enters_.)
Oh, ’ere she is.
PHOEBE. Hullo! (_She is taking off her things_.) Wherever have you
been? We’ve been scouring the neighbourhood—
(LADY MOGTON _enters_, _followed by_ JANET.)