L. Anne [Struck] Let’s all blow up our
own; then we can start fair.
Daddy would like that.
L. Aida. Yus. [Suddenly brilliant] I’ve ‘ad a ride in a taxi, an’ we’re goin’ ’ome in it agyne!
L. Anne. Were you sick?
Little Aida. [Brilliant] Nao.
L. Anne I was; when I first went in one, but
I was quite young then.
James, could you get her a Peche Melba? There
was one.
James. No.
L. Anne. Have you seen the revolution?
L. Aida. Wot’s that?
L. Anne. It’s made of people.
L. Aida. I’ve seen the corfin, it’s myde o’ wood.
L. Anne. Do you hate the rich?
L. Aida. [Ineffably] Nao. I hates the poor.
L. Anne. Why?
L. Aida. ’Cos they ‘yn’t got nuffin’.
L. Anne. I love the poor. They’re such dears.
L. Aida. [Shaking her head with a broad smile] Nao.
L. Anne. Why not?
L. Aida. I’d tyke and lose the lot, I would.
L. Anne. Where?
L. Aida. In the water.
L. Anne. Like puppies?
L. Aida. Yus.
L. Anne. Why?
L. Aida. Then I’d be shut of ’em.
L. Anne. [Puzzled] Oh!
[The voice of the
press is heard in the hall. “Where’s
the
little girl?”]
James. That’s you. Come ’ere!
[He puts a hand behind
little Aida’s back and propels her
towards the hall.
The press enters with old Mrs. Lemmy.]
Press. Oh! Here she is, major domo. I’m going to take this old lady to the meeting; they want her on the platform. Look after our friend, Mr. Lemmy here; Lord William wants to see him presently.
L. Anne. [In an awed whisper] James, it’s the little blighter!
[She dives again under the table. Lemmy enters.]
Lemmy. ’Ere! ‘Arf a mo’!
Yer said yer’d drop me at my plyce.
Well, I tell yer candid—this ’yn’t
my plyce.
Press. That’s all right, Mr. Lemmy. [He grins] They’ll make you wonderfully comfortable, won’t you, major domo?
[He passes on through
the room, to the door, ushering old Mrs.
Lemmy and little
Aida.]
[Poulder blocks Lemmy’s way, with Charles and Henry behind him.]
Poulder. James, watch it; I’ll report.
[He moves away, following the press through the door. James between table and window. Thomas has gone to the door. Henry and Charles remain at the entrances to the hall. Lemmy looks dubiously around, his cockney assurrance gradually returns.]
Lemmy. I think I knows the gas ’ere. This is where I came to-dy, ’yn’t it? Excuse my hesitytion—these little ’ouses is so much the syme.