L. ANNE. Oh! Daddy!
[THOMAS abruptly closes the doors.]
LEMMY. [To ANNE] Now yer"ve done it. See wot comes o" bein"
impytient. We was just gettin" to the marrer.
L. ANNE. What can we do for you now?
LEMMY. [Pointing to ANNE, and addressing JAMES] Wot is this one, anywy?
JAMES. [Sepulchrally] Daughter o" the house.
LEMMY. Is she insured agynst "er own curiosity?
L. ANNE. Why?
LEMMY. As I daon"t believe in a life beyond the gryve, I might be tempted to send yer there.
L. ANNE. What is the gryve?
LEMMY. Where little gells goes to.
L. ANNE. Oh, when?
LEMMY. [Pretending to look at a match, which is not there] Well, I dunno if I"ve got time to finish yer this minute. Sy to-mower at.
"arf past.
L. ANNE. Half past what?
LEMMY. [Despairingly] "Arf past wot!
[The sound of applause is heard.]
JAMES. That"s "is Grace. "E"s gettin" wickets, too.
[POULDER entering from the door.]
POULDER. Lord William is slippin" in.
[He makes a cabalistic sign with his head. Jeers crosses to the door. LEMMY looks dubiously at POULDER.]
LEMMY. [Suddenly--as to himself] Wot oh! I am the portly one!
POULDER. [Severely] Any such allusion aggeravates your offence.
LEMMY. Oh, ah! Look "ere, it was a corked bottle. Now, tyke care, tyke care, "aughty! Daon"t curl yer lip! I shall myke a clean breast o" my betryal when the time comes!
[There is a alight movement of the door. ANNE makes a dive towards the table but is arrested by POULDER grasping her waistband. LORD WILLIAM slips in, followed by THE PRESS, on whom JAMES and THOMAS close the door too soon.]
HALF OF THE PRESS. [Indignantly] Look out!
JAMES. Do you want him in or out, me Lord?
LEMMY. I sy, you"ve divided the Press; "e was unanimous.
[The FOOTMEN let THE PRESS through.]
LORD W. [To THE PRESS] I"m so sorry.
LEMMY. Would yer like me to see to "is gas?
LORD W. So you"re my friend of the cellars?
LEMMY. [Uneasy] I daon"t deny it.
[POULDER begins removing LITTLE ANNE.]
L. ANNE. Let me stay, Daddy; I haven"t seen anything yet! If I go, I shall only have to come down again when they loot the house.
Listen!
[The hoa.r.s.e strains of the Ma.r.s.eillaise are again heard from the distance.]
LORD W. [Blandly] Take her up, Poulder!
L. ANNE. Well, I"m coming down again--and next time I shan"t have any clothes on, you know.
[They vanish between the pillars. LORD WILLIAM makes a sign of dismissal. The FOOTMAN file out.]
LEMMY. [Admiringly] Luv"ly pyces!
LORD W. [Pleasantly] Now then; let"s have our talk, Mr.----
LEMMY. Lemmy.
PRESS. [Who has slipped his note-book out] "Bombed and Bomber face to face----"
LEMMY. [Uneasy] I didn"t come "ere agyne on me own, yer know. The Press betryed me.
LORD W. Is that old lady your mother?
LEMMY. The syme. I tell yer stryte, it was for "er I took that old bottle o" port. It was orful old.
LORD W. Ah! Port? Probably the "83. Hope you both enjoyed it.
LEMMY. So far-yus. Muvver"ll suffer a bit tomower, I expect.
LORD W. I should like to do something for your mother, if you"ll allow me.